Våffeldagen

March 21

Saturday, March 21, finds Lindsborg immersed in pure waffle love. It’s the annual Lindsborg Våffeldagen, which translates as “waffle day” in English. Lindsborg’s version of Våffeldagen has earned a reputation for its quirky, mellow, and friendly atmosphere.

Event founder Carla Wilson explains, “In Sweden and most of Europe, people mark the day by eating waffles. In Lindsborg, we eat waffles plus we welcome waffle creativity — jokes, parody songs, hats, clothing, jewelry, visual references, and anything that is waffle-y.”

Waffle-inspired food and treats will be served until sold-out. Crafts at the library call to the young and young-at-heart. Waffle games and songs will fill downtown spaces too.

From 8:00am-2:00pm, look for an encounter with Lindsborg’s Waffle People. You won't be able to miss them! These good-natured volunteer greeters, dressed as walking waffles, will share information and pose for snapshots. 

In between waffles, make a day of roaming Lindsborg. From art galleries and boutiques to home decor and floral shops, Lindsborg’s downtown entertains.

Discover the birth of Våffeldagen and more on the Visit Lindsborg blog.

Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible

Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery

March 6

In collaboration with Bethany College, The Messiah Festival of the Arts, and Kansas State University’s Hale Library, the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery is pleased to host a viewing of and presentations about the Heritage Edition of The Saint John's Bible on Friday, March 6 at 11:00am and 4:00pm.

Described in some circles as the American Book of Kells, The Saint John’s Bible is the first hand-written, hand-illuminated Bible, commissioned more than 500 years ago. Created using medieval techniques and calf-skin vellum, The Saint John’s Bibleis a 14-year project completed by a team of calligraphers, artists, iconographers, theologians, and scholars. It contains more than 160 illuminations and an original script. The Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible is a museum-quality replica of the original and a work of art on its own.

In addition to viewing, learn more about the process used in its creation and feel for yourself the wonder of this masterpiece that will be enjoyed for generations to come. The Bible is one of only 300 made and the only one in Kansas.

The Sandzén Gallery is located at 401 N. First Street. There is no charge for the event. For further information, please call the Gallery at 785-227-2220 or email sandzengallery@gmail.com.

Smoky Valley Best Traditional Pancake Flour

Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum

A long-lost recipe rediscovered and adapted is once again available for purchase just in time for Våffeldagen!

Partnering with Sunflower Food Co. in Lenexa, the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum is excited to have Smoky Valley Best Traditional Pancake Flouronce again on their shelves for purchase.

But how does it taste? Wander down to the museum on March 21 (Våffeldagen) for fresh-cooked, delcious waffles to try for yourself. Every puchase supports the mission of the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum.

Lauren Miller, vice president of Sunflower Food Co., was excited to help bring this recipe back to life. Miller said, "You will love the old-world inspired pancakes and waffles produced by this flour mix! Try one (or two!) for yourself.” 

Read more about the history of Smoky Valley Best Traditional Pancake Flour, the discovery of the recipe, and the process of bringing it back to life by clicking on the Visit Lindsborg blog.

Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum is located at 120 Mill Street. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-5:00pm.

145th Messiah Festival of the Arts

Every Valley

In the heart of Kansas, the Messiah Festival of the Arts has stood as a cultural cornerstone for generations. For the 145th celebration, the festival embraces the theme Every Valley. This theme draws inspiration from Handel’s Messiah text, “Every valley shall be exalted,” and expands to encompass a broader vision of community, connection, and celebration.

Celebrate the 145th Messiah Festival of the Arts with the Bethany Oratorio Society, Bethany College, and Lindsborg this Easter season.

Since its founding in 1882, the Bethany Oratorio Society has performed Handel’s Messiah every year. This year marks the 145th consecutive performance of Handel’s Messiah, the longest-running rendition of this work in North America. Featured soloists for this year’s performances include Deanna Ray Eberhart, mezzo-soprano; Alyssa Nance, soprano; Aaron Cates, tenor; Chris Thompson, baritone; and Leslie John Flanagan, bass. These talented artists will bring their expertise and passion to the stage in performances of Bach's The Passion According to St. Matthew and Messiah. 

Read more about the Messiah Festival of the Arts soloists on the Visit Lindsborg blog.

Dates and times of other Messiah Festival of the Arts event opportunities:

March 6: Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible Presentation with two opportunities: 11:00am and 4:00pm. The presentations will be held in the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, 401 N. First Street.

March 26: Messiah Soloists Recital, 7:30pm in the Pearson Chapel located in the Mabee Welcome Center on Bethany College’s campus.

March 27: Bach's Passion According to St. Matthew, 7:30pm in Bethany Lutheran Church, 320 N. Main Street. Purchase tickets here.

March 29: Handel's Messiah, 3:00pm in Presser Hall Auditorium, located on the campus of Bethany College, 335 E. Swensson Street. Purchase tickets here.

Tickets for Handel's Messiah and Bach's Passion are on sale now! Click on this link for purchasing online, or call the Messiah Festival office (785) 227-3380.

Barry Fitzgerald, Artist-in-Residence

Red Barn Studio Museum

March 1-28

The Red Barn Studio Museum is excited to welcome Barry Fitzgerald, Lawrence, as Artist-in-Residence March 1-28.

An illustrator, designer, and fine artist, Fitzgerald has taught at the University of Kansas as a professor and program director of Illustration since 1993. To learn more about Fitzgerald, his process, and his numerous national and international awards, click on the Visit Lindsborg blog.

During his residency, Fitzgerald will be creating a new body of artwork using collage, charcoal, and assemblage techniques. Visitors to the Red Barn will see Fitzgerald at various stages of artmaking, and he welcomes the opportunity to explain part or all of his process. He is interested to see how a new working environment and community will inform his future artwork.

You are invited to collaborate with Fitzgerald and his project Connecting the Dotsat the Red Barn Studio Museum on March 14, 1:00-3:00pm. Participants will use colored paper, various drawing and painting tools, and tempera paint to make an assortment of visual elements that include textures, random shapes, and representational imagery. These elements will be put together to complete a picture. Exploring different ways to combine the elements can be similar to a connect-the-dots method of making a picture – it can be challenging to know what to expect, but each step of the process reveals what the picture could be.

Cost is $25 for nonmembers and $22 for members. Register online, by phone, 785-227-2217, or in person at the Red BarnStudio Museum. Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm, Saturday-Sunday, 1:00--5:00pm. Location is 212 S. Main Street.

All are invited to attend a reception for Fitzgerald on March 22, 2:00-4:00pm. For more information on his artwork, visit his website. Look for Fitzgerald's work in an upcoming exhibition at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, May 3-July 19.

Little Women: the Musical

Bethany College

March 5, 6, & 7

Bethany College presents Little Women: the Musical, the beloved classic brought to the stage, March 5, 6, and 7.

Directed by Elizabeth Robertson, this beloved classic celebrates family, resilience, ambition, and the enduring bonds of sisterhood--a beautiful adaptation of a timeless story.

Tickets will be available at the door by cash only.

• General Admission – $10

• Students – $5

• FREE for Bethany College faculty & students with Bethany College ID

Bring your friends, bring your family, and enjoy an evening of unforgettable storytelling. 

All performances will be held in the Burnett Center for Religion and Performing Arts, located on the campus of Bethany College, 335 E. Swensson Street.

Lindsborg Collects...Lindsborg Art

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center

March 6-April 5

The concept behind the Lindsborg Collects...Lindsborg Art exhibition is that the story behind the acquisition of the art is as important as the work itself. Stories range from straight purchases, barters, or even tongue-in-cheek moments. Personalities often play a big part in the provenance of a piece.

The reception for the exhibit is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, 2:00-4:00pm at the Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center, 114 1/2 S. Main Street. Hours are Friday-Sunday, 1:00-5:00pm.

The Tea Cup Grand Opening

March 10

Owners David and Cheryl Hickel invite you to The Tea Cup's Grand Opening on March 10, but advise you to look for celebrations all week. 

Store hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday 12:00-3:00pm.

The store offers teas, spices, sugars, salts, blends, olive oil, balsamic vinegars, and more, and is located at 105 N. Main Street.

Lucky in Lindsborg

March 14

Get lucky with treats, drawings, giveaways, and specials in participating Lindsborg businesses. Downtown events run 10:00am-5:00pm.

Finish up the day at the Öl Stuga for live music from Kyle Gilmore! Food and drink specials fill the St. Patrick's Day menu! The Öl Stuga is located at 119 S. Main Street.

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit Garland Workshop

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center

March 14

Did you know that saying "Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit" the moment you wake up on the first day of each month is said to bring you good luck for the rest of the month? It’s an old English tradition — and you can stitch it to life!

On March 14, the Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center will host a workshop called Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit: Good Luck Garland. This class, meant for adults ages 15 and up, will be taught by Debbie Wagner, Donna Sandberg, & Marsha Howe.

Come and enjoy a relaxed, social stitching afternoon workshop open to all skill levels. You will stitch three fabric rabbits and assemble them into a little garland — ready to hang in your home just in time to remind you to say those magic words on April 1.

All necessary supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring along scraps of fabric or personal embellishments that are meaningful to you to make your garland truly one of a kind.

Whether you’re an experienced stitcher or picking up a needle for the first time, this is a welcoming, low-pressure afternoon of creativity and good company.

Cost: $20 for members/$25 for non-members. Register by clicking here.

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center, a volunteer-run organization, is located at 114 1/2 S. Main Street. Business hours are Friday-Sunday, 1:00pm-5:00pm.

Kansas 250 Virtual Author Talks

Lindsborg Community Library

March 25

Lindsborg Community Library is joining the America 250 celebration with Kansas 250 Virtual Author Talks!

March 25, gather at the library for a virtual author talk with Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall! In this author conversation, Brimhall will offer a unique look at poets, past and present, that embody "ad astra per aspera" – to the stars through difficulties. Then discover how you too can tell a story through poetry. The talk begins at 7:00pm.

Traci Brimhall is an award-winning poet and author of five poetry collections, most recently "Love Prodigal" (2024). A professor of creative writing at Kansas State University, she is currently the poet-in-residence at the Guggenheim Museum, she also serves as Poet Laureate of the State of Kansas.

Look for other Kansas 250 Virtual Author Talks to be held in the Lindsborg Community Library, 111 S Main Street, as the America 250 celebration continues all year. These events are hosted by State Library of Kansas.

Did you know that the State Library of Kansas has a themed book list for Kansas 250? Each month, the KS250 Bookshelf will display a themed reading list, program ideas and partnership suggestions. The Kansas 250 Bookshelf was built in support of America 250 and the Kansas 250 Commission. Find Kansas Notable Books, written by or about Kansans, that have been recognized for excellence and are widely available in Kansas libraries. Check out the list, the check out the book at Lindsborg Community Library!

128th Annual Midwest Art Exhibition

Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery

January 26-April 19

La Catredal Escondiendo las Raíces by Marco Hernandez

Five exhibitions comprise the 128th annual Midwest Art Exhibition, which opened at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery on January 25 and continues through April 19.

The shows include paintings by Tim Stone and prints by Marco Hernandez, both of Wichita; woodcarvings by Glenn Knak of Salina; mixed media pieces by Genevieve Waller of Denver; and selections by Gretchen Elliott’s art students at Smoky Valley High School. The opening reception for the exhibitions will be on Saturday, February 7, from 2:00-4:00pm, with guest artists' talks beginning at 2:30pm.

The Midwest Art Exhibition was founded in 1899 by three local Lindsborg artists – Birger Sandzén, Carl Lotave, and G. N. Malm – as a complement to the annual Messiah Festival held at Bethany College. Today, it represents the longest running annual art exhibition in Kansas and features works by artists invited by the Sandzén Gallery or from the Gallery's permanent collection.

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 guided tours for groups are available by two-week advance appointment. For more information about Birger Sandzén, the Gallery, and these exhibitions click here or phone (785) 227-2220.

Chalk the Välk Returns!

April 11

Registration Deadline: March 28

An exciting spring event returns to Lindsborg! Four and a half miles of "canvas" on the Välkommen Trail for artists of all ages to imagine and create! Come to create or to explore! World-renowned Artist David Zinn well be joining in the imaginative atmosphere.

Registration required for participation--all are welcome to participate!

PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MARCH 28

• $10 registration per participant.
• Online registration is preferred. Late registrations can take place the day of the event.
• Square assignments will be emailed on Wednesday (4/8/26) and given on the day of the event with the registration packet at Mabee Welcome Center on the Bethany College campus. 
• Schools will be pre-assigned squares as a group.
• Up to four registered people can work on one square. (All four must be registered.)
• Professional Artist stipend of $300 for materials will be provided to approved artists. Submit artwork for approval to cvbdir@lindsborgcity.org. Payment will be made after completion of the event.
• Registration is through the Lindsborg Recreation Department website.

Contest Categories:

• Grades 7th-9th
• Grades 10th-12th
• College-Adult

Special gift certificate prizes from Trollslända and Indigo Moo'd for these categories:

• PS-K ages
• 1st-2nd grades
• 4th-6th grades

Q & A time with professional artists including interactions with renowned artist David Zinn. Learn more about making a career out of your passion for art.

Spend the day in Little Sweden, USA. Discover creative juices flowing everywhere you turn!

Contact Visit Lindsborg with your questions about this event: 785-227-8687/888-227-2227

Mary Grace Bernard, Artist-in-Residence

Red Barn Studio Museum

March 31-April 10

The Red Barn Studio Museum welcomes performance and installation artist Mary Grace Bernard as Artist-in-Residence, March 31-April 10.

Bernard’s interest in art was first sparked at a young age when their mother provided them with painting supplies, and she started making large-scale paintings of flowers to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Later while working on their second MA in art history at Denver University, Bernard discovered performance art. She was impacted by its power to directly and provocatively express their personal experiences with cystic fibrosis.

Bernard plans to use their residency to read, research, and write in preparation for creating new performances and artworks. Currently, Bernard is researching the historical ties between the Church and medicine and considering how this history can be tied into their performance practice. Click on the Visit Lindsborg blog to read more about Bernard, their residency plans, their work and practice, and their goal to open conversations and connect often overlooked people.

Visitors to the Red Barn Studio Museum, 212 S Main Street, are invited to talk to Bernard about their artwork and experiences with chronic illness and disability. Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm, Saturday and Sunday, 1:00-5:00pm.

America 250/Kansas 250

Celebrate America's Semiquincentennial

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the Kansas 250 Commission invites you to celebrate Kansas history, culture, and community throughout the year.  

Here are some ways you can celebrate in March:

• Order your Kansas 250 Gift Box from The Land of Kansas: From the Land of Kansas Marketplace: Kansas 250 Gift Box
• Sign up for your group or organization to be a part of the State-Wide 9/11 Commemoration Day of Service: Kansas Volunteer Commission Sign Up
• Get monthly ideas from the Kansas 250 calendar: 2026 Monthly Idea Sheet

Discover ways to celebrate America's 250th anniversary all across Kansas by visiting the Kansas 250 website. As the nation approaches its upcoming Semiquincentennial in 2026, the Kansas 250 Commission will lead the state's efforts in commemorating this eventful moment in American history. 

The Kansas 250 Commission will also collaborate with local communities and partner organizations to provide a wide array of activities and events focused on America's 250th birthday. From legendary storytelling and educational seminars to community celebrations and historical events, the Kansas 250 commission is asking everyone to participate in the upcoming celebration of America 250.