Little Sweden USA

Hello everyone,

Bethany College is presenting an intriguing play, Two Rooms, this Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30pm at the Burnett Theater which is located on the Bethany Campus. Admission is 5$ for the general public and free for Bethany College students, faculty and staff.

Two Rooms is a play about an American professor at a university in Beirut, who is taken hostage and held in a tiny cell. Back in the US, his wife clears out his office and spends all of her time the empty room, trying to feel what he is feeling. It promises to be a moving experience.

The Raymer Red Barn Studio has announced that Linda Baranski is returning as an Artist in Residence for the second time this year. On Saturday, November 11th, she will be offering a Holiday Card Printmaking Workshop.

From 1 to 4pm workshop participants will have the opportunity to make several prints that may be attached to the front of notecards or scanned into their computer for use on multiple cards.

The event promises to be a fun and easy way to learn the art of printmaking while creating your own festive holiday cards. Call (785) 227-2217 for more information.

On Tuesday, November 14th, the Bethany College Symphonic Band, directed by Doug Talbott, will present its second concert of the fall season. The concert is free and open to the public, and begins at 7:30pm at Presser Hall.

Erickson’s Art Corner, Lindsborg’s newest gallery, is holding a public reception on Saturday, November 18th, from 3 to 7pm. The gallery is located at 231 N. Main in Lindsborg. Owner Mary Erickson has moved to Lindsborg from Grand Junction Colorado. She works primarily in pastels and has won many awards for her work. Her method of layering pastels lends an impressionistic quality to her works. Everyone is welcome!

Mark your calendars! Lindsborg’s annual winter Artists Studio Open House is coming up on December 2nd, from 10am to 5pm. We’ll have more details in the coming weeks.

Till next week, this is Mike Rodriquez with the Lindsborg update.

Hello everyone,

This Saturday, November 4th, the Swedish Genealogy Research Group will hold their quarterly meeting, beginning at 10am, in the Meeting Room at the Bank of America in downtown Lindsborg.

There will be a presentation on searching military records by Lenora Lynam, archivist for the Old Mill Museum. In addition, she will report on her recent trip to a Swedish Genealogy conference.

The Swedish Genealogy Research group is open to anyone interested in the topic. Members meet quarterly to share research methods and receive assistance with their genealogy projects. For more information call (785) 227-3595.

The Raymer Red Barn Studio has announced that Linda Baranski is returning as an Artist in Residence for the second time this year. On Saturday, November 11th, she will be offering a Holiday Card Printmaking Workshop.

From 1 to 4pm workshop participants will have the opportunity to make several prints that may be attached to the front of notecards or scanned into their computer for use on multiple cards.

The event promises to be a fun and easy way to learn the art of printmaking while creating your own festive holiday cards. Call (785) 227-2217 for more information.

The Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce is holding their annual banquet on Saturday, November 11th, from 5:30 to 8:00PM at the Bethany College Main Dining Room. Jack Parr, leader of Jack Parr Associates, an internationally recognized human resources development firm, will be the featured speaker. Contact the Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce at (785) 227 3706 for more information and to order tickets, which are priced at 13$ per person.

Till next week, this is Mike Rodriquez with the Lindsborg update.

Hello everyone,

It’s a Swedish tradition celebrated around the world, especially in Little Sweden, USA! It’s the Midsummer’s Day Festival, this Saturday during the day at Lindsborg’s Swensson Park and in the evening at Heritage Park near the Old Mill.

Enjoy

Swedish folk dancers from Mora Sweden,

Scandinavian folk dancers from Texas,

the Lindsborg youth and adult Swedish dancers,

and children’s activities throughout the day.

At the adjoining Bethany Church there will be

a Swedish costume review, featuring a wide variety of costumes from throughout the ages,

and a performance by the Bloomington Minnesota Covenant Church Adult Choir.

Back in Swensson Park, enjoy a preview of this year’s Broadway RFD production of South Pacific, followed by more Swedish Dancing as well as children’s activities.

At 5pm there’s the smorgasbord dinner at the Pihlblad Union on the Bethany campus; tickets are available at the Swedish Dancer’s Dala Van at Swensson Park during the day. They are $17.50 for adults and $10 for kids.

In the evening the celebration continues in Heritage Park near the Old Mill. The raising of the Maypole is certainly one of the highlights of every Midsummer’s celebration! More Swedish and Scandinavian folk dancing will follow the raising of the Maypole.

finish the day with the midnight swim, from 10pm to midnight at the Lindsborg municipal pool.

On Sunday, there is a Vesper’s service followed by a potluck dinner, starting at 4:30 at the Bethany Lutheran Church. There will be Swedish Dancing following the dinner.

Midsummer’s Day is full of fun and delicious food for the whole family, so don’t miss it, Saturday in Lindsborg. Tickets are just 3 dollars for adults, 2 dollars for children.

Plus, visit downtown Lindsborg merchants for a chance to win with Midsummer’s Madness. After visiting 4 participating merchants, drop off your entry form for a chance to win a fine piece of artwork by local artist Carla J Wilson. The drawing will be held Saturday evening, and you need not be present to win.

Till next week, this is Mike Rodriquez with the Lindsborg update.

Hello everyone,

It’s barely one week till Lindsborg welcomes summer with the annual Midsummer’s Festival, held the weekend of June 17th.

But before we turn to that, Lindsborg is having a fairly big day Sunday June 11th from noon to 8pm. That’s the day of Jam in the Park, an all day musical extravaganza held in Swensson Park. Featuring 14 different bands, the music will range from country and pop to ragtime and Christian rock. Admission is free, and food will be available for purchase. Johnny Western will be the guest announcer from noon to 4pm, and Brother Ray and Roxanne, from the Zoo, will keep the crowd excited from 4pm to 8pm.

On Saturday, June 17th, prepare for a full day as Lindsborg celebrates Midsummer’s. There will be Swedish folk dancing, featuring many special guest dancers, including a group from Mora Sweden, plenty of food, a wide variety of arts and crafts, and much more.

As promised last week, here’s a look at what’s available for the kids this year. Children’s activities have been enhanced and expanded this year. The young ones will be sure to enjoy games such as the Lutefisk toss and Swede ball. There will also be miniature Maypole decorating, face painting, the crafting of dala horse name tags, and more. This year truly promises fun for the whole family!

And speaking of food, there something new this year, a special Swedish delicacy known as Varm Korv med bröd, which translates to warm sausage with bread, otherwise known as a hotdog on a bun. But these aren’t just any hotdog! They’ve been specially created for this event by a local meat processor and are based on an old traditional Swedish recipe for hotdogs.

On Sunday, the weekend concludes with a 4:30 pm Vesper’s service at the Bethany Lutheran Church, followed by a potluck dinner.

Till next week, this is Mike Rodriquez with the Lindsborg update.

Hello everyone,

On June 17th, Lindsborg celebrates the traditional Swedish event known as the Midsummer’s Festival with a full day of activities that you won’t want to miss!

Swedish Folk dance performances are one of the highlights of every Midsummer’s, and this year will be no exception. Every year Midsummer’s audiences are treated to dancing by the youthful Lindsborg Swedish Dancers and the adult Folkdanslag dancers. This year, some very special guests from Texas, the Norwegian Society of Texas, and Mora, Sweden, the Mora Folkdanslag, will be performing their interpretations of Swedish Folk and Scandinavian dancing. This is a rare treat, so make your plans now to be in Lindsborg on June 17th.

Of course, there’s a lot more to Lindsborg’s Midsummer’s Festival than just dancing. As mentioned last week, there is a Swedish Costume Fashion show at Bethany Church, starting at 11am. In addition, there is a preview of this summer’s Broadway RFD presentation: South Pacific, starting at 1pm. This year there is a renewed emphasis on children’s activities; I’ll have more details in a future broadcast, but want everyone to know that kids and grownups a like will enjoy the children’s lutefisk toss.

Midsummer’s weekend also marks the 3rd Annual Bethany College Auxiliary Garden Tour will be held the afternoon of Midsummer’s Day. This event is a fundraising effort to benefit the Auxiliary Bethany College Student Scholarship Fund, and tickets will be available at the park the day of Midsummer’s.

The home garden tour is wonderful opportunity to see a few of the many fine gardens in Lindsborg and will conclude with a Nibble Table at the Hemslojd, 201 N. Main Street.

Be sure to tune in next week for more information about the Lindsborg Midsummer’s Festival on June 17th.

No time to record the podcast version of my weekly KSAL Lindsborg Update; here is the text.

Hello everyone,

On June 17th, Lindsborg celebrates the traditional Swedish event known as the Midsummer’s Festival with a full day of activities that you won’t want to miss!

Swedish Folk dance performances are one of the highlights of every Midsummer’s, and this year will be no exception. Every year Midsummer’s audiences are treated to dancing by the youthful Lindsborg Swedish Dancers and the adult Folkdanslag dancers. This year, some very special guests from Texas, the Norwegian Society of Texas, and Mora, Sweden, the Mora Folkdanslag, will be performing their interpretations of Swedish Folk and Scandinavian dancing. This is a rare treat, so make your plans now to be in Lindsborg on June 17th.

Of course, there’s a lot more to Lindsborg’s Midsummer’s Festival than just dancing. One of the special treats th is year is the Swedish Costume Fashion Show. The show will be held at the Bethan Lutheran Church, adjacent to Swensson Park, starting at 11 am and lasting about one hour.

The Swedish Costume Fashion show should be very interesting. A wide variety of costumes will be shown, and the dance group from Texas will participate. The goal of the costume show is to showcase how the costumes have changed over the years, and explain the various influences that drove design changes through the years.

Costumes shown will include: Lindsborg historical costumes, original Swedish costumes, a St. Lucia costume and more.

At the Lindsborg Midsummer’s Festival there will be plenty of food available from a variety of food vendors located in the park. One of the special treats at Midsummer’s is the evening Smörgåsbord meal. Don’t miss the 5 p.m. Swedish Smörgåsbord at Pihlblad Memorial Union at Bethany College. Smörgåsbord tickets will be available at the Swedish Dancers booth, or in advance by contacting the Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce.

Be sure to tune in next week for more information about the Lindsborg Midsummer’s Festival on June 17th.

No time to record the podcast version of my weekly KSAL Lindsborg Update; here is the text.

Hello everyone,

It’s a little hard to believe, but it’s less than a month until Lindsborg celebrates the fine Swedish tradition known as Midsummer’s Day. On June 17th, Lindsborg celebrates the Midsummer’s Festival with a full day of activities that you won’t want to miss!

Swedish Folk dance performances are one of the highlights of every Midsummer’s, and this year will be no exception. Every year Midsummer’s audiences are treated to dancing by the youthful Lindsborg Swedish Dancers and the adult Folkdanslag dancers. This year, some very special guests from Texas and Mora, Sweden will be performing their interpretations of Swedish Folk and Scandinavian dancing. This is a rare treat, so make your plans now to be in Lindsborg on June 17th.

Of course, there’s a lot more to Lindsborg’s Midsummer’s Festival than just dancing. In the month before the festival we’ll cover some of those additional activities, but in general expect to find good food, fine arts and crafts and lots of fun folks wearing Swedish costumes. Speaking of, if you wear your costume, and are among the first 200 paid attendees, you will receive a commemorative pin; last year’s was a nice enameled Swedish/American flag pin.

And don’t forget to bring the kids! There will be games, face-painting and more, throughout the day.

Another highlight of Midsummer’s takes place in the evening at the Old Mill Heritage Complex, down by the river. Gates open at 6:30 for the evening activities, which include the traditional raising of the maypole, followed by performances by both the local dance groups and our visitors from Texas and Mora, Sweden.

Well, I’m out of time for this week, so be sure to tune in next week for more information about the Lindsborg Midsummer’s Festival on June 17th.