WHAT TO DO? LOTS!

POSTEN

December 2024

St Lucia Festival

December 14

The Lindsborg Saint Lucia Festival is a beautiful celebration during the holiday season, celebrated on Saturday, December 14. Hosted by the Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers, the day will be full of dancing and tradition. The schedule for the day includes:

• 10:15: Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers and Soderstrom 4th Grade students performing downtown
• 11:00am: Procession of dancers to Bethany Lutheran Church, 320 N. Main Street
• 11:30: Soderstrom 4th Grade St. Lucia music service at Bethany Lutheran Church with reception following
• 1:30pm: Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers and Lindsborg Folkdanslag perform on the lawn of Bethany Lutheran Church
• 3:00pm: St. Lucia service with Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers at Bethany Lutheran Church with reception following

Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers will also be hosting a Swedish bake sale in the Courtyard Gallery from 10:00am-2:00pm with all proceeds being donated, in the true Saint Lucia custom of giving to others. This years' recipent is Grant's Grace. Grant's Grace is an endowment fund set up through the Smoky Valley Community Foundation in memory of Grant Lysell-Alkire. The endowment fund was set up to help students in need within the community. The fund helps pay student medical bills, student academic and sports activity fees, those with food and bedding needs, and gifts for families struggling during the holidays.

Click here for a link to the festival schedule.

Come to Lindsborg and be a part of one of the most beautiful of holiday traditions. For more information on Saint Lucia and her importance to Sweden, click on Visit Lindsborg!

Christmas Crafts & Cocktails

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center

Get your holiday season started by attending crafting workshops at the Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center! It's a time to eat, drink, and be creative with these five holiday-themed workshops. Each workshop runs 6:00-8:00pm. So grab a friend and get registered!

• December 5: Paint & Sip Snowman Painting with Cindy Crandall
• December 12: Fresh Greenery Centerpiece with Carla Wilson
• December 19: Winter Solstice Celebration with Lesa Larson & Marsha Howe

Each workshop (for ages 21+) will offer a special cocktail. Find the menu, details for each class, and registration information at Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center.

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center, a volunteer-run organization, is located at 114 1/2 S. Main Street, and is supported by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, the McPherson County Community Foundation, and the Raymer Society.

Snowflake Parade

December 7

Join in the fun of this wild and wacky holiday parade! Plan to be part of the fun--all snowflakes, Christmas bells, snowmen, reindeer, tomtes and ugly sweater-wearers welcome!

Parade line up begins at 10:30am at Bethany Lutheran Church, located at 320 N. Main Street.

Parade route, down Main Street, begins at 11:00am. Bring your chair and a hot beverage to make the most of the morning. Be prepared to get jolly while watching the whimsy!

Afterwards, there will be free "take and make" ornaments for children at participating businesses (while supplies last), all a part of the Christmas in Lindsborg experience.

Handcrafted Holiday Gift Market

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center

Through December 22

The Handcrafted Holiday Gift Market showcases the work of over 20 talented artists from the Smoky Valley region, offering a diverse range of items, including paintings, prints, ceramics, jewelry, woodcarvings, mixed-media pieces, and more. Handcrafted items for both gifting and collecting are found in this exhibition that runs November 8-December 22. Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center hours are Friday-Sunday, 1:00pm-5:00pm.

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center, a volunteer-run organization, is located at 114 1/2 S. Main Street, and is supported by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, the McPherson County Community Foundation, and the Raymer Society.

Christmas Artists' Studio Open House

December 7

Every year, on the first Saturday of December, area artists open their studios to visitors, offering them a glimpse into their creative processes and works. This year, on December 7, 10:00am-5:00pm, visitors can explore galleries and workspaces in the Lindsborg and Marquette area while immersing themselves in art, music, and engaging conversations.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet artists working in various mediums, ranging from ceramics to copper enamel, bookmaking to stained glass, and quilts to gouache painting. 

The Christmas Artists' Studio Open House will feature over 30 participating artists in many galleries and studios. This annual event provides a unique and special opportunity to discover and collect Christmas gifts for everyone. The Open House brochure can be obtained at the Red Barn Studio Museum,

212 S. Main Street, and other participating venues on December 7.

Sponsoring organizations for Christmas Artists' Studio Open House are the Raymer Society, the Lindsborg Arts Council, and, of course, Lindsborg area artists.

Holiday Movie Night

J.O. Sundstrom Conference Center

December 7

Gather the family and enjoy a viewing of the holiday favorite: Elf! Wear your holiday pjs and enjoy a free movie! The event will take place at the Sundstrom Conference Center at 6:00pm. Concessions will be available for purchase, and Santa will be available for photos! No reservations required for entry! 

For more information, check with Lindsborg Recreation Department.

Christmas Chamber Music Concert 

Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery

December 8

Oboist and composer Alyssa Morris will be performing a selection of her original compositions and Christmas arrangements at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery on Sunday, December 8 at 2:00pm. A reception will follow the concert. She will be accompanied by Christopher Nilo on oboe, Kevin Nordstrom on viola, and Glenn Harman on piano. Among the works they will present are Mixed Signals, The Big Questions, The Child Emmanuel, and In the Still of Winter.

Alyssa Morris is well-known to Sandzén Gallery chamber music attendees and appreciated for her performances and presentation of original compositions. Read more about Morris and her fellow musicians on the Visit Lindsborg blog.

The Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery is located at 401 N. First Street. Hours are 10:00am-5:00pm Tuesday-Saturday, and 1:00-5:00pm on Sunday. Admission is free, with donations appreciated.

Christmas Season Cheer

Öl Stuga

The Öl Stuga is giving plenty of reasons to lift a glass of cheer with them during December! Check out these opportunities:

December 11, 7:30pm: Whiskey Night--Taste some rare, allocated whiskeys and bourbons, $20/flight, seating is limited

December 14, 8:00-11:00pm: Singer/songwriter Kyle Killgore returns to the Stuga! No cover charge! Come and go as you like! Please remember, the Stuga limits entry after 10:00pm to 21 years+. Eat dinner, enjoy drinks and live music!

December 15, 7:00-9:00pm: Beer & Carols LBK! Sing Christmas favorites in your favorite pub with hosts Mandy Todd and Russ Ware.

December 18, 7:30pm: Collin Carlson is back hosting Trivia Christmas Edition. This quarterly event is quickly becoming the most popular event at the Stuga. Preference is a team of 6 with Öl Stuga gift cards given to the top three teams.

The Öl Stuga has special hours for the following days:

• December 24, open until 5:00pm
• Christmas Day, closed
• December 31, 11:00am-2:00am

Located at 119 S. Main Street, normal business hours are Monday-Wednesday, 11:00am-midnight; Thursday-Saturday, 11:00am-2:00am; Sunday (during football season) 11am-game over! Call 785-227-8762 or visit their Facebook page for more information.

Holiday Gift Show and More

Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery

Through January 12

Five exhibitions opened at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery on November 3 and will continue through January 12. They feature a collaborative exchange between James Kinser of Chicago and Ruth Moritz of Salina; paintings and prints by former Bethany College art faculty member Nicholas Hill; paintings by Richard Davies of Wichita; prints by Matthew Regier of Matfield Green; and the annual Holiday Gift Show. The opening reception for the exhibitions will be on Sunday, November 3, from 2:00-4:00pm with artist talks beginning at 2:30pm. 

Read about assemblages, connections to ancestors, paintings created from journal writings and other explored memories, art based on the complex emotions of lonliness, and art intigrating agriculture and ecology in fuller detail on the Visit Lindsborg blog page.

The Gallery's popular Holiday Gift Show is the highlight of the exhibitions. The work of over 50 invited artists are represented in the show and include paintings, prints, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, mixed media pieces, and more. Wonderful, unique gifts for discerning shoppers can be found at the Holiday Gift Show.

The Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery is located at 401 N. First Street. Hours are 10:00am-5:00pm Tuesday-Saturday, and 1:00-5:00pm on Sunday. Admission is free, with donations appreciated. Docent tours for groups are available by two-week advance appointment.

Christmas Village Fundraiser

J.O. Sundstrom Conference Center

December 14

Support the 2025 Svensk Hyllningsfest Festival by purchasing Christmas Village pieces of popular Lindsborg landmarks.

Various quantities of Christmas Village pieces will be available for purchase on December 14 at the J.O. Stundstrom Conference Center, 102 N. Main Street, from 10:00am-2:00pm.

Complete your collection while enjoying a day in Lindsborg!

Heritage Christmas

Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum

December 14

Come to the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum 5:30–8:00pm on Saturday, December 9 for Heritage Christmas!

The evening features:

• Live music
• Sugar cookie decorating
• Crafts for kids
• visit from Santa for the kids
• A Shepherd's Story of Christmas
• Tours of the 1898 Smoky Valley Roller Mills
• Bake sale refreshments
• The Mayor's Christmas Kaffe, 6:00-7:00pm, in the first county courthouse

The museum and gift shop will also be open. Admission during the holiday event will be by donation.

The Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum, 120 E. Mill Street, celebrates and preserves the pioneering spirit of the Smoky Valley by educating, entertaining, and building community across generations so that history comes to life. With special emphasis on the period from 1870 to 1910, the museum includes two buildings on the National Registry of Historical Places and extensive archives and artifact collections. The museum seeks to honor the rich story of Lindsborg and its people. Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm.

Holiday Home Tour

December 15

Experience the holidays with the Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center'sHoliday Home Tour on Sunday, December 15 from 4:00-7:00pm. The Holiday Home Tour features five beautiful and unique Lindsborg homes.

Tickets can be purchased online for $35 now or on the day of the tour for $40. Tickets can be picked up at Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center on the day of the tour 1:00-5:00pm and must be presented at each home.

Members of SVAFC can purchase tickets any time before the tour for $20. Consider becoming a member today.

The Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center will be open during the tour hours for holiday treats and refreshements!

Please note: The Holiday Home Tour is not recommended for children under 12 years old. Some of the homes on the tour have an upper level or stairs into and out of the residence. Parking at each of the homes will be on the street and walking distances will vary. 

Tour guidelines and home descriptions are found here. Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center is located at 114 1/2 S. Main Street.

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center is a volunteer-run organization, and is supported by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, the McPherson County Community Foundation, and the Raymer Society.

Bethany College Choir's 90th Anniversary Concert: Splendor of Eternal Light

Bethany Lutheran Church

December 15

Join the Bethany College Choir in celebrating 90 years of choir music, tradition, and joy on Sunday, December 15, at 4:00pm at Bethany Lutheran Church, 320 N. Main Street. As part of this special milestone event, alumni are invited to join current choir members in singing beloved Christmas carols, including On Christmas Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Peace I Leave with You.

The concert will be followed by a festive reception for all choir alumni at 5:30pm. Hosted by the Alumni Office, the reception will feature coffee and Swedish baked goods, provided by the Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers.

This event offers a unique opportunity for alumni to reconnect with the choir, revisit cherished music, and celebrate a legacy of musical excellence. Whether you're singing on stage or enjoying the performance, all are invited to be part of this joyous occasion.

The concert will be live-streamed on the Bethany Lutheran Church Facebook page for those unable to attend in person. No RSVP is required, and alumni should simply arrive at the church ready to sing along to these well-known Christmas classics.

For more information about repertoire and rehearsals, contact Professor Troy Robertson at robertson@bethanylb.edu.

More To Do In Festive Lindsborg

🎄December 3: Bethany College Orchestra, Band, and Jazz Band concertin Presser Hall at 7:00pm

🎄December 10: Music Department of Bethany College recital in Pearson Chapel on the campus of Bethany College at 2:30pm.

🎄December 16: Cookies with Mrs. Claus at First Bank Kansas, 12:00-2:00pm, 118 N. Main Street

🎄December 21: Freeze Your Brass Off! An interactive concert experience featuring The Wheatland Brass and you! Bring an instrument and play along or snuggle up and enjoy the holiday music. Time & location: 3:30pm, St. Lucia Park (just south of City Hall, 101 S. Main Street)

🎄December 25: Julotta--This traditional Swedish Christmas Lutheran Church service begins at 6:00am at Bethany Lutheran Church. Come early and enjoy the beautiful sounds of a brass ensemble sending the call to worship at 5:45am from the bell tower of the beautiful church. A memorable way to start your Christmas morning. Check Visit Lindsborg for more information.

🎄December 26: Annandag Jul literally translates as "another day of Christmas" an official part of the Christmas holiday in Sweden. Experience a traditional Lutheran Church service in Swedish at Bethany Lutheran Church. Check Visit Lindsborg for more information.

🎄Follow Christmas in Lindsborg on Facebook for holiday events or Visit Lindsborg's Calendar of Events for everything happening in Lindsborg!

5 Star Stay

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stretch, breathe, wander, explore...find relaxation and refreshment at every corner in Lindsborg, beginning with a 5 star lodging experience.

Find Lindsborg lodging suggestions here.

CONNECT