Come to Gammelgarden Museum for a free family-friendly event featuring Swedish/Nordic and Mexican folk music, dance, and visual arts. There also will be arts and crafts for children and adults; historic building tours; an arts, crafts, and vendors fair; and artist demonstrations. Both Swedish and Mexican food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Music Performance

Spelmansstämman is a long-standing Swedish folk music tradition based on outdoor gatherings (stämma) of Swedish musicians (spelman) to share music, friendship, and playing. At a traditional stämma, a small group of musicians share tunes they love and have in common.

Gammelgarden’s 35th annual Spelmansstämman will feature multiple musicians performing throughout the day.\

Schedule of Events:

Please note: the schedule and performers are being finalized as of the first week of July 2025. The ones noted below have been asked, with some confirmed and others yet to be confirmed. Check back often for the final schedule. ***

Come for the full day – or part of the day. Following is the general schedule of events:

10-12:

Cross-Cultural Art 
Swedish Craft Project: Create a Dala häst pop-up card with Marie Olofsdotter, a Swedish-born artist and poet –– Welcome House
Mexican Craft Project: Create a screen-printed poster with Jessica Lopez Lyman/La Luchadora– Museum Grounds 
Swedish and Mexican Weaving Comparison – Welcome House
10-4:

Historic Building Tours – Docents in Buildings (10-4). Tours for those who are Hearing Impaired (with headphones) or Deaf (ASL interpreter) – Meet at the Reception Desk at the Welcome House
Artists, Crafters, and Vendors Fair – Museum Grounds
Artifacts
Adrienne Quinlan
Apothecary’s Daughter
Becky Letecht Felt and Fiber
Bella Josie Naturals
Braided Stream Arts
Carol’s Stained Glass
Cynthia DeMar Arts
Donald Fick
Folkdress Fantasy
Hunter Panoch Art and Photography
LB’s Caramels, Candies, and Crafts, LLC
Marine Maple Syrup
Eric Nelson – Buckthorn Studio
Rooted Apricity
Sara Tennis – Artisan
Scandia Sister City Council
Scandinavian Weavers Study Group
Susan Raes Woodworking
Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota
T’s Crafts
Vasa Junior Folk Dancers
Washington County Master Gardeners – Milkweed, Monarchs, and Pollinators Team
Scandia Butik Gift Shop – Welcome House
Do a Scavenger Hunt and Get a Prize – Historic Buildings/Museum Grounds
Exhibits – Welcome House
Outdoor Games – Museum Grounds
Food for Sale – 10-4

Gammelgården Museum Serving Swedish Fika (Desserts and Beverages) and American Snacks – Front of Welcome House
Food Trucks Serving Mexican and American Food – Front of Welcome House
10:15-10:45

Waltz Workshop with the North Star Nordic Dancers – Barn Stage 2
10:30

Children’s Storytime – Location TBD
11:00

Parade of Performers/Grand March followed by group introductions and Allspell (all groups play) – From the front of the Welcome House, around the west side of the building, and to Barn Stage 1
11:15 – 12:00 (performance) and 12:00-12:15 (meet and greet)

Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue (“Precious Mother Earth”) – Aztec and Nahuatl Dance and Culture – Barn Stage 1
Learn symbols of the Meso-American calendar, experience the rhythms of an ancient people, and begin to understand the connections between ritual and daily life. Driving drum rhythms and dazzling costumes hold the audience’s interest, and through each step the dancer in full regalia gives life to the symbols of the dance. Aztec dance performance creates a connection between contemporary dancers and the elders who have preserved this expression of culture. The Aztec symbols of life are reproduced in the dance steps.

Barn Stage 2 – 12:00-3:30

12:15-3:00 – During short breaks between performances, be entertained by Ross Sutter.
12:15 – ASI Spelmanslag
1:00 – Mariachi Alma de Mexico
1:30 – Hardingfele
2:00 – Vasa Junior Folk Dancers
2:30 – Ponyfolk
3:00 – Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca
3:25 – Closing Allspel and Nordic Closing Tune: Hälsa Dem Därhemma (led by Ross Sutter)

Old Church Stage – 12:00-2:55

12:00 – Instrument Petting Zoo – See and touch instruments up close, and ask questions about how they are played. Explore the nyckelharpa, pump organ, hardingfele, pipes, cittern, accordion, violin, and guitar.
1:00 – ASI Lillelag
1:30 – Felebox
2:00 – Nordstär Ensemble
2:30 – Paul Dahlin and Friends
3:00 – Twin Cities Nykelharpalag
3:25 – Building opens again for self-guided tours. A Gammelgården Museum tour guide is available to provide information and answer questions.

Vendor Fair Stage – 1:00-3:15

12:00 – Vasa Junior Folk Dancers
12:25 – Ponyfolk
1:00 – Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca
1:25 – ASI Spelmanslag
1:45 – Mariachi Alma de Mexico
2:15 – Felebox
2:30 – North Star Nordic Dancers
2:55 – Hardingfele