In this week’s update: Millfest 2024 is this week, new Kansas-based products in gift shop, Sunflower Summer 2024 and more!
In our weekly update, keep up to date on what staff and volunteers at the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum are working on to lift up the history of Lindsborg and the surrounding region. This weekly update both looks back at what happened last week and looks ahead at what’s coming.
For April 22-28, 2024:
- This week is Millfest! Join us this Saturday, May 4 for the biggest event of the year at the museum and the only opportunity of the year to see the 1898 Smoky Valley Roller Mills in action across its four floors of machinery for just $10 per person. This year also brings a new activity of axe throwing – $5 for unlimited play from noon to 3 p.m. All other regular museum activities are by-donation for the day. Millfest also includes more than a dozen demonstrators and arts & crafts vendors, music entertainment, Swedish dancing, great food and more! Check out the full program of events HERE and we’ll see you on Saturday!
- We are also preparing to welcome about 500 kids an adults for Millfest for Kids on Friday, May 3 for this awesome living history opportunity.
- Want to help us as a volunteer for Millfest? We want to hear from you! Needs include:
-Friday: cleaning; moving tables and chairs in preparation for Saturday-Saturday: “On-call” individual to help with minor maintenance or spot-cleaning issues; gate greeters and ADA parking assistants during Millfest; tour ticket-takers; lawn games supervisors; Dala horse decoration supervisors; some cleanup after Millfest (taking down tents, taking down chairs from certain areas, etc.)Contact us at oldmillmuseum@gmail.com if interested and available. Please indicate in your message when you would be available and if there is any of the above listed work you would NOT be able or willing to do.
- Staff is expecting to do final submission on two important grants this week.
- We had four people visit our archives this week, researching a historical school.
- A group of 14 from Smoky Valley High School helped us during the community service day last Wednesday helping to pick up the museum grounds before Millfest. Thank you for your help!
- We welcomed tour groups last week from a Dexter High School history class and Sunny Plain School from Hays. We hope you enjoyed your visit!
- We have new products in the Gift Shop in-person from great Kansas-based suppliers: Granny’s Homemade Mustards; Let It Rise bread mixes, and AJ Honey products! Come check them out!
- The electrical outlets in the Old Mill Campgrounds are now upgraded! We now have twelve 30-amp hookups and – NEW – six 50-amp hookups! Learn more about the campgrounds at www.oldmillmuseum.org/campgrounds.
- NOW OPEN: “Skeleton-Of-Dog… Selected Geology & Natural History Artifacts from the Bethany College Collection Archives” is a temporary mini-exhibit at the museum featuring some unique artifacts not seen in public for decades!
- You have ONE more day to apply for our museum Executive Director through tomorrow, April 30. Visit www.oldmillmuseum.org/careers for full details and application instructions.
- Registration is now open for the next Swedish Genealogy Workshop on June 8! Limited to 100 attendees, we have four great new sessions in this online learning opportunity!
- Our Endowment Campaign 2025 is ongoing to add $1 million to our endowment in supporting our annual operational budget to make sure that not only do we preserve these historical treasures, but we can also “keep the lights on.” Read more on the flyer and giving form below, or visit to www.oldmillmuseum.org/donations to learn more!
Social Media Highlight of the Week
Kansas Tourism has announced Sunflower Summer 2024 includes more than 220 FREE attractions for Kansas kids and their families – and Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum is among them! Make sure you take advantage of this great opportunity this summer!
Thank you to our museum volunteers last week!
Jerry Sperling, Cathy Ahlstedt, Carol Gusenius, Betty Amos, Julie Ann Neywick, Karmon Almquist, John Presley, Les Sperling, Mike Koch, and Leland Nelson!