A list of the Free, Free with Admission, and events under $10 held at the Swedish American Museum scheduled for the remainder of 2026. A full list of events can be found on the Museum website at www.SwedishAmericanMuseum.org.
3 places
Showing 3 of 3 places
Museum Events
Swedish American Museum
Celebrating Nordic culture & history with various programs including exhibits, tours & a kids' area.
Free Tuesday - Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. & Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Free admission to the Museum on the 2nd Tuesday of the Month. Visit all exhibits of the Museum, including our core exhibit "We Are America" looking at Swedish immigration to the United States (with a focus on Chicago), "Andersonville Through the Ages" looking at the history of the neighborhood, and three different rotating exhibits in the main gallery, Wallenberg Gallery, and Cafe. There is a guided tour of the core exhibit at 11 a.m. and a table featuring items from our collection in the gallery space from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Cafe typically has a lunch special during Free Tuesday and the Children's Museum has crafts available in the classroom. This event is Free.
Scandinavian Jam - Sunday, Nov. 15, from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Scandinavian Folk music at the Museum. Join us for an afternoon of traditional roots music starting with instruction from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. New tunes are taught in the call and response “aural” tradition. The afternoon continues with a brief snack, and the jam session kicks off at 2 p.m. Build a repertoire with the unique tones and unusual rhythms of Scandinavia. Recording devices are encouraged. Bring your instruments, request your favorites, share a tune and play along on what you can, sit back and listen when you want a break. Contact scandijamchicago@gmail.com with any questions. This event is Free.
HYBRID History Lecture - Sunday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m.
Chicago's Own Very Successful Swedish American Engineers and Builders by Julie Anne Benson and Cousins. At its peak Ragnar Benson, Inc. (with the yellow and blue construction trailers and vehicles) was America's tenth largest construction company employing thousands in Chicagoland. The founder, Ragnar Benson, was born in southern Sweden and immigrated with his older sister to Chicago in 1911. The firm is still active but it's no longer owned by "Mr. B," as he was affectionately called by some employees. Learn about Ragnar's early years and the successful business (1930-1980) he built, as well as the lasting philanthropy he left behind. The event will be held in person and streamed online, register on the Museum's website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/addmultipleeventform/35266 to attend. This event is Free.
Hejsan! Storytime & Craft - Thursday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m., and Friday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m.
On the last consecutive Thursday and Friday of most months we read a children's book (all available in our Store) and we do a craft. In November, we will read The Reindeer Wish By: Lori Evert. This event is Free with Admission.
ONLINE Book Club - Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m.
We meet the last Saturday of the month at 2 p.m. to discuss books from Nordic countries that can be bought in the Museum Store. In November we will discuss The Colony by Annika Norlin (Sweden). Please register for this event on our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/product/35146. This event is Free.
Guided Tour of the Core Exhibit "We Are America" - Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m.
A guided tour of the Museum's core exhibit, We Are America. Approximately 45 minutes. Reserve your spot on our website or at the door (if space remains.) November Tour Registration: https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/product/35243. December Tour Registration: https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/product/35244. This event is Free with Admission.
Kids Holiday Gift Making Workshop - Sunday, Nov. 22, from 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Your 'elves' will create cozy and decorative gifts for their friends and family. Kids aged 8-10 are welcome to create projects that will be sent home wrapped and tagged for gift giving. Parents are welcome to wait in Mormors Café. Register for this event on the Museum's website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/product/35310. This event is $10 per guest.
Museum Late Night - Friday, Nov. 27 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 18, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
The Museum, Cafe, and Store have extended hours. Admission to the Museum and our exhibits is free from 4 p.m. until closing. November Late Night hosts holiday craft stations in the Main Gallery and on Dec. 4 is the Museum's Holiday Market Pre-Sale. This event is Free.
ONLINE Genealogy Lecture - Saturday, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m.
A Well-Documented Case Study: Swedish Immigrant Enoch Matteson with Speaker: Janet Johnson. Free for Swedish American Genealogical Society members. Join us for an engaging presentation by Janet Johnson as she demonstrates how thorough research, careful documentation, and persistence can bring an immigrant ancestor's story to life. Through the case study of Swedish immigrant Enoch Matteson, Janet will illustrate the research methods, records, and analytical techniques used to reconstruct an ancestor's journey from Sweden to America. For more information or to register for this event, visit https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/product/35199. This event is $10 per guest.
Julmarknad - Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The Museum's Annual Holiday Market! You can browse through a wide variety of products from our wonderful vendors to find gifts for loved ones or to treat yourself. There will be performances and visits from Tomten. Enjoy delicious Swedish treats as well. You won't want to miss this special holiday tradition. Vendors: Saint Bunni (Friday-Sunday), Carolyn Aronson (Friday-Sunday), Henry Carlson (Friday-Sunday), Lauralee Carlson-Reese (Friday-Sunday), Dala Ceramics by Linley M Erickson (Friday-Sunday), Shuttle Flicka Lace (Friday-Sunday), Salty Provisions (Friday - Sunday), Ashley Rasmussen (Friday - Sunday), Mardi Party Hat Co. (Saturday - Sunday), Swedish Passport Co. (Friday-Sunday), Echo of Sweden (Friday-Sunday), Kurt Wolff-Klammer (Friday - Sunday) Performances: Saturday, Dec. 5 11 a.m. Swedish Mixed Chorus 1 p.m. Merula Sunday, Dec. 6 12 p.m. Svenska Skolan (Lucia) 1:30 p.m. Nordic Dancers 2 p.m. Chicago Spelmanslag This event is Free, but there is a $2 suggested donation for entry to help support operating costs of the Museum.
Free Movie Screening: Ingmar Bergman - Thursday, Dec. 10, at 12 p.m.
The Swedish American Museum invites you to a screening of the movie Fanny and Alexander. Fanny and Alexander is a 1982 period drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. The plot focuses on two siblings and their large family in Uppsala, Sweden during the first decade of the twentieth century. Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDlA_QZmqkM. Soup lunch is available for pre-order. Register on the Museum website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/addmultipleeventform/34421. This event is Free, but you can preorder a soup lunch to eat during the movie for $10.
St. Lucia Celebration - Sunday, Dec. 13, from 4 p.m.
Lucia is celebrated on Dec. 13 in Sweden and we honor this special day along with our Andersonville neighbors. St. Lucia was known for her generous spirit. Children dress up as St. Lucia, wearing crowns of candles and singing throughout the neighborhood, and someone will be crowned this year's Lucia. At the Museum, we will have a performance by our Lucia candidates and a procession on Clark Street by all St. Lucia participants, including children playing the part of Star Boys as well. This is one of the most special neighborhood holiday traditions. The schedule for this year: 4 p.m. Crowning of Lucia at the Swedish American Museum (seating during this concert is reserved for families of the participants, then guests to the Museum) 4:45 p.m. Procession starts at the Museum and goes to the Andersonville Christmas Tree 5 p.m. Performance at the Christmas Tree 7 p.m. Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Ave. If you are between the ages of 5 and 24 and want to take part in this years St. Lucia procession please click here: https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/form/st-lucia-application. This event is Free.
ONLINE Art Lecture - Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m.
Bonader Exhibit Talk by Pieper Bloomquist. Every holiday season the Museum brings out part of its collection of Bonader. The collection was donated to the Museum in 2000 by the Art Institute of Chicago, the 29 Bonader represent the eighth largest known collection. One of the most remarkable examples of Scandinavian folk art is the painted picture indigenous to the Swedish peasant home. The commonly used name for these peasant paintings is bonader, and their provenance was to decorate the walls and ceilings of the homes at Christmas time and on feast days, thus adding a note of color and gaiety to the otherwise dark interiors. Between festivities, these canvas or paper panels were taken down and carefully kept, to become a part of the family inheritance. The collection of bonader at the Museum is a collection of extraordinary works on linen and paper, with vegetable and mineral pigments that achieve arrays of color. They were sized for specific wall spaces and hung unframed. Several of the artists were identified, and more than 100 may have practiced the craft. Register on the Museum website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/product/35300. This event is Free.
Children's Museum Crafts - during CPS Winter Break
There will be holiday crafts available in the Children's Museum during CPS winter break. The Children's Museum hours are: Monday, Dec. 21 - Thursday, Dec. 24: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 25: Closed Saturday, Dec. 26 & Sunday, Dec. 27: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28 - Wednesday, Dec. 30: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 & Friday, Jan. 1: Closed This event is Free with Admission.
Museum Cafe Events
Swedish American Museum Cafe — Mormor’s Café
Knitting Group - Sunday, Nov. 15, from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 20, from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Join us for Knitting Group, where we work on our knitting or fiber arts projects while enjoying fika. All are welcome, including those who just want to come and socialize. If the Cafe is busy, we will meet in the Museum lobby or gallery space.
Running Group - Sunday, Nov. 29, at 10:30 a.m., and Sunday, Nov. 27, at 10:30 a.m.
Join the Museum for a 30 minute run every last Sunday of the month at 10:30 a.m. We will be starting and ending at the Museum (located at 5211 N Clark St.) Our next meeting falls Sunday, Nov. 29, at 10:30 a.m. This event is Free, registration is not needed, but we will be leaving the Museum on time so please be prompt if you plan on running with us.
Free Swedish Events at Ebenezer Lutheran Church
Ebenezer Lutheran Church
St. Lucia Service - Sunday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.
Lucia is celebrated on Dec. 13 in Sweden and we honor this special day along with our Andersonville neighbors. St. Lucia was known for her generous spirit. Children dress up as St. Lucia, wearing crowns of candles and singing throughout the neighborhood, and someone will be crowned this year's Lucia. At the Museum, we will have a performance by our Lucia candidates and a procession on Clark Street by all St. Lucia participants, including children playing the part of Star Boys as well. This is one of the most special neighborhood holiday traditions. If you are between the ages of 5 and 24 and want to take part in this years St. Lucia procession please click here: https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/form/st-lucia-application. This event is Free.
Julgudstjänst - Sunday, Dec. 20, at 4 p.m.
A traditional Christmas church service, held in Swedish.
Place details provided by Google Maps