Scandia, MN – Fiddle Fest Gammelgarden Museum – August 15, 2026

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.

Gammelgården’s 36th annual Spelmansstämman will feature multiple musicians performing throughout the day.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

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

Family Activities – 10am-4pm   

• Historic Building Tours – Docents in Buildings – Historic Buildings
• Textile and Shoemaking Exhibits – Welcome House
• Outdoor Swedish and Japanese Games – Museum Grounds
• Artists, Crafters, and Vendors Fair – Museum Grounds
• Do a Quilt Scavenger Hunt and Get a Prize – Welcome House
• Try on a Yukata (Japanese Summer Robe) – Gazebo
• EDDY (Education & Discovery Delivered to You) – Created by The National Park Service–St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and Wild Rivers Conservancy, EDDY brings the Riverway to the people so everyone can learn about over 250 miles of nationally-significant waterways through exhibits, activities, and river stories – Museum Grounds

Art Activities – 10am – 4pm

• Paint a Dala Horse: Paint a wooden Dala horse ornament with youth and adults from the Vasa Jr. Folk Dancers and museum volunteers ––Museum Grounds from 10:00-12:00
• Daruma Doll Workshop – Make and decorate a Daruma doll using clay with Keiko Morikawa – UW-Stout Japan Outreach Initiative Coordinator – Welcome House – Second Floor from 10:00-4:00
• Weaving Comparison – Judy Larson of the Scandinavian Weavers Study Group will weave on the museum’s historic floor loom and COMPAS Teaching Artist Chiaki O’Brien will have SOARI looms available for the public to weave on –– Welcome House – Second Floor from 10:00-4:00 (Scandinavian Weaving) and Museum Grounds from 12:30-3:45 (Japanese Weaving)
• Origami – Try your hand at the ancient Japanese art of paper folding – Welcome House – Second Floor from 10:00-4:00
• Bengala Soil Dyeing – Dye a handkerchief choosing from among 12 natural colors. COMPAS Teaching Artist Chiaki O’Brien will guide the first 100 participants about how to do this ancient Japanese dyeing process – Museum Grounds from 10:15-12:00

Food for Sale – 10am – 4pm

• Food Trucks – American and Japanese Food and Beverages by Deep Roots Concessions and Samurai Teppanyaki – By the Parking Lot
• Scandia Butik – Swedish snacks, candies, and beverages – Inside the Welcome House

Artists, Crafters, and Vendors Fair – 10am – 4pm

• • Apothecary’s Daughter
  • Austyn’s Lemonade Stand
  • Borage and Bumblebee
  • Carol’s Glass Creations
  • Chickadee Forest
  • Cynthia DeMar Arts (also demonstrating metalsmithing)
  • Fleming Petersen & Company
  • Folkdress Fantasy
  • J & K Legacy Jewelry
  • Kahu Crystals
  • League of Women Voters of White Bear Lake Area, LLC
  • Lisa Rydin Erickson
  • Popcorn, Kevin’s Way
  • Scandia Sister City Committee
  • Scentsy
  • Shaped by Water
  • Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota
  • Vasa Jr. Folk Dancers
  • Washington County Master Gardeners – Milkweed, Monarchs, and Pollinators Team (also doing hands-on activities with children and adults)

12:00-12:10 – Introduction of performers and ensembles for the event

12:15 – 1:15 – TaikoArts (COMPAS Teaching Artists)

1:15-2:30 – During short breaks between performances, Gammelgården’s interns will make short presentations and provide event information

1:30 – 2:15 – Brian Wicklund (Sponsored by Levitt Family Foundation)

2:30-3:30 – Duo Mythos (COMPAS Teaching Artists)

3:35 – Closing Allspel and Nordic Closing Tune: Hälsa Dem Därhemma

Old Church Stage – 12:45pm – 3:30pm

12:15-12:30 – Vasa Jr. Folk Dancers

12:45-1:15 – Oliver Hunter and Vårvindar

1:30 – 2:00 – ASI Spelmanslag with Lilalag

2:15 – 2:45 – Renee Vaughan and Les LaCroix

3:00 – 3:30 – Ponyfolk

3:30 – 4:00 – Building opens again for self-guided tours.

This event is made possible by the generous support of

Valley Arts Initiative – St. Croix Valley Foundation, Levitt Family Foundation,

Twin Cities Nyckelharpalag, Scandia-Marine Lions Club,

and Gammelgården Museum of Scandia donors.