St. Lucia Festival

December 13

The Lindsborg Saint Lucia Festival is a beautiful celebration during the holiday season, celebrated on Saturday, December 13. Hosted by the Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers, the day will be full of dancing and tradition. The schedule for the day includes

• 10:15am--Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers and Soderstrom 4th Grade students performing downtown
• 11:00am--Procession of dancers to Bethany Lutheran Church, 320 N. Main Street
• 11:30am--Soderstrom 4th Grade St. Lucia 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 10:00am-2:00pm with all proceeds being donated, in the true Saint Lucia custom of giving to others. This year's 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!

Heritage Christmas

Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum

December 13

Come to the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum 5:30–8:00pm on Saturday, December 13 for Heritage Christmas!

The evening features:

• Live music in the Swedish Pavilion
• Sugar cookie decorating
• Crafts for kids
• Visit from Santa for the kids
• Festive knitting for sale
• A Shepherd's Story of Christmas
• Tours of the 1898 Smoky Valley Roller Mills
• The Mayor's Christmas Kaffe, 6:00-7:00pm

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

The Lindsborg Old Mill & 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.

Christmas Artists' Studio Open House

December 6

There’s a special kind of magic in the air during Lindsborg’s Christmas Artists' Studio Open House. The scent of spices, the sound of carols, and the glow of creativity fill the studios and galleries of Lindsborg. The artists and crafters of Lindsborg, alongside the Red Barn Studio Museum, Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center, and the Lindsborg Arts Council, invite you to the 22nd Annual Christmas Artist Studio Open House on Saturday, December 6, from 10:00am-5:00pm.

This long-loved Lindsborg tradition opens the doors of more than 19 studios and galleries, offering visitors a chance to experience the warmth of working artist spaces, meet 30+ makers, and collect original art and fine crafts. From woodcarvings and ceramics to jewelry, printmaking, and sculpture, you’ll find something for everyone, perhaps even something for yourself.

More than just a shopping day, the Christmas Artists' Studio Open House is a celebration of creativity, community, and the joy of supporting local artists. Make it part of your holiday tradition and experience the art of the season in Lindsborg.

The Open House brochure can be obtained at the Red Barn Studio Museum, 212 S Main Street, and other participating venues.

Snowflake Parade

December 6

The annual wacky winter event returns! And you're invited to be a part of the parade or just watch the fun from the sidelines. Silliness is encouraged!

The parade line-up begins at 10:30am in Bethany Lutheran Church parking lot, 320 N. Main Street. The parade begins at 11:00am.

The fun continues throughout the day with a visit from Santa and merchant Take & Make ornaments. Follow Christmas in Lindsborg's Facebook page for all the latest holiday information!

Megan Coleman-Watkin, Artist-in-Residence

Red Barn Studio Museum

Through December 7

The Red Barn Studio Museum welcomes Megan Coleman-Watkin of New Orleans, Louisiana, as Artist-in-Residence November 16-December 7. Working in writing, Megan will spend her residency creating a series of essays based on conversations with Lindsborg artists about their work, creativity, and how art contributes to healing and community. Megan is a licensed mental health provider and lifelong artist who uses her background in psychology, social work, and the arts to explore how creative expression supports emotional well-being. Her residency project will combine written essays with recorded interviews to document the stories of Lindsborg artists and their connection to place.

The Red Barn Studio Museum is located at 212 S. Main Street. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm and Saturday-Sunday, 1:00-5:00pm. The Raymer Society's Artist-in-Residence program is sponsored in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industry Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, contact the Red Barn Studio Museum at 785-227-2217. 

A Ceremony of Carols

Pearson Chapel

December 7

The Smoky Valley Trebles, a Lindsborg based community of treble (soprano and alto) singers from the Smoky Valley area, will perform with harpist Jane Hyde at 4:00pm in Pearson Chapel.

They will be performing Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28, a beloved choral work, scored for three-part treble chorus, solo voices, and harp. There are twelve total movements in the work. The movements are brief, and the entire work, which includes a harp solo piece, is typically performed in about 25 minutes. The work is deceptive in its simplicity, with several of the movements written as rounds or call-and-response pieces.

A reception will follow the event. Pearson Chapel is located on the campus of Bethany College, 335 E. Swensson Street.

Swede Social: Juletide edition

Bethany College

December 10

Join Bethany College in the Mabee Welcome Center for a joyful afternoon filled with holiday magic, Swedish treats, warm conversation, an update from President Dr. Laura Crawley, and the spirit of the season. All are invited to meet President Crawley and hear what's new at Bethany.

The event takes place December 10, 1:00pm-3:00pm. Following the event, all are welcome to join for chapel. The Mabee Welcome Center and Pearson Chapel are located on the campus of Bethany College, 335 E. Swensson Street.

Handcrafted Holiday Gift Market

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center

November 14-December 21

The Handcrafted Holiday Gift Market is a festive exhibition and sale featuring regional artists and makers. Shop a thoughtfully curated selection of handmade artwork, crafts, and creative gifts perfect for holiday giving. Paintings, pottery, jewelry, textiles, and décor - all original, all locally made.

Handcrafted items for both gifting and collecting are found in this exhibition that runs November 14-December 21. 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.

Beer & Carols

Öl Stuga

December 14

Led by Pastor Mandy Todd, Pastor Melissa Woeppel, Russ Ware, and other local friends, Beer & Carols is a family-friendly time of fun and frolic around good drinks and good tunes. Starting with a passing out of hymnals, those gathered have the opportunity to write down Christmas favorites from the hymnal on slips of paper. These are then drawn for the chorus of voices to sing out for the first part of the evening.

After a break, the second part of the evening continues right back into Christmas classics from Rudoph and Frosty, to Silver Bells and the Twelve Days of Christmas!

Find details by clicking on this link, and gather at the Öl Stuga, 119 S Main Street, on December 14, 7:00-9:00pm.

Holiday Gift Show, Maleta Forsberg, Lester Raymer, and Tattoos

Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery

Through January 11

Tattoo designs by S. Roach of Tenfold Tattoo

Four exhibitions fill the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery through January 11. They feature a memorial exhibition of paintings by Maleta Forsberg; works by Lester Raymer, tattoo samples from regional shops; and the annual Holiday Gift Show. 

Lindsborg artist Maleta Forsberg passed away in August of this year, and the Gallery is honored to be able to present a special exhibition of her paintings. As an artist, she was primarily self-taught – taking classes at the Kansas City Art Institute, and workshops with other artists throughout her life. Maleta once said, “Being an artist is an ongoing learning process. There is always something new to try.”

Lester Raymer (1907-1991) was born in Alva, Oklahoma and also spent time growing up in Colorado. He completed academic courses at Northwestern University in Alva, and studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating in 1935.

After a very successful career, he died in June of 1991, leaving to the Raymer Society the task of promoting his life, exhibiting his art, and developing the Red Barn Studio Museum in Lindsborg.

Marked: Art That Lives on the Skin, features tattoo designs from True Love Tattoo and Rogue Collective Tattoos & Piercings in Salina, along with selections from Tenfold Tattoo in Wichita.

The Gallery's popular Holiday Gift Show completes the selection of new exhibitions. The work of over 40 invited artists are represented in the show and include paintings, prints, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, mixed media pieces, and more.

Read more about Forsberg and Raymer and their invaluable contributions to Lindsborg and beyond in the Visit Lindsborg blog. More about the tattoo exhibition and additional photos are also found on the 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. Docent tours for groups are available by two-week advance appointment. For more information about Birger Sandzén, the Gallery, and these exhibitions visit www.sandzen.org or phone (785) 227-2220.

Christmas Crafts & Cocktails

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center

Get creative this holiday season with our evening art workshops paired with premium cocktails. Each class includes two drinks, all materials, and expert instruction from local artists.

• Nov 13: Holiday Wreaths SOLD OUT

• Nov 20: Paint & Sip

• Dec 4: Swedish-Inspired Paper Stars

• Dec 11: Make Your Own Tin Stars

• Dec 18: Winter Solstice Celebration SOLD OUT

These workshops are for ages 21+ and registration is required. Space is limited so get registered today!

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center, a volunteer-run organization, is located at 114 1/2 S. Main Street.

Legacies: Jim Richardson Exhibition

Small World Gallery

Through March 21

Water witcher Ralph Fraser stood against the boiling summer clouds near Belleville, KS.

Now celebrating a 60-year photographic career, Jim Richardson will offer a new print show at Small World Gallery called “Legacies.” In the show, Jim will reflect on the wide range of subjects he has covered, both here and around the world, for National Geographic Magazine. 

Richardson said, “It has been fulfilling as I develop my archive to gather images into coherent bodies of work. But it was also rewarding to recall all the people who aided me in their production: farmers, scientists, archeologists, pilots, gamekeepers, fishermen, ranchers. the occasional friendly sheepdog and landscapes from the Great Plains to the Moors of Scotland. 

"Many of their legacies are to be found here, too. Every story was a new world.

“At first it may seem that subjects in ‘Legacies’ are diverse and disconnected, but in each story I almost always found links back to my roots in Kansas — my formative years on my mom and dad's farm and early photography in rural Kansas.” 

Richardson’s show runs until Saturday, March 21, 2026. Signed and numbered prints will be available for order, and 5- by 7-inch greeting cards featuring his works from the show will be available for purchase. All of Richardson’s prints and cards are made by him.

Since 2002 he has displayed his work at Small World Gallery on Lindsborg’s Main Street. 

Having his own gallery changed the way Richardson looked at the art of printing his own photographs, said his spouse Kathy.

"It is a rare thing — a photographer of Jim’s background dedicated to one small storefront for so many years. While Jim’s work has been temporarily displayed in many more distinguished forums by other organizations, Small World Gallery in Lindsborg has remained his North Star."

The timing of “Legacies” also coincides with the re-opening of the Kansas History Museum in Topeka on November 22 after a three-year renovation. The renovated museum will include several huge display photographs by Jim plus an exhibit of Jim’s old equipment. 

Read about Richardson's beginnings, his work with National Geographic, and more by going to the Visit Lindsborg blog.

Small World Gallery is located at 127 N. Main Street. Hours are 10:00am-4:00pm Tuesday-Saturday.

On December 7 at 2:00pm, the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery will host a chamber concert featuring Alyssa Morris and the Aglow Trio.

The service begins at 6:00am at Bethany Lutheran Church on Dec. 25. Come early and enjoy the sounds of a brass ensemble sending the call to worship at 5:45am from the bell tower of the church.

Annandag Jul, literally meaning "another day of Christmas,” is an official part of the Christmas holiday in Sweden. Bethany Church will celebrate Annandag Jul on December 26 at 10:00am.

Stop by First Bank Kansas on Dec. 20 between 12:00-2:00pm to share your Christmas wishes with Mrs. Claus! Cookies, frosting, and decorations for the kids to enjoy will be available in the lobby.

An interactive concert experience featuring The Wheatland Brass and you!

Bring an instrument and play along or snuggle up and enjoy the holiday music.

Dec. 20

Join Messiah Lutheran Church for a Communiy Christmas by Candlelight on Sunday, Dec. 21. The Chancel Choir will be sharing the musical evening beginning at 6:00pm