Old Mill celebrates Christmas in July, joins Sunflower Summer
LINDSBORG, Kan. — The Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum will kick off dual summer celebrations Saturday, offering holiday-themed discounts and participating in a statewide program providing free attractions to Kansas families.
The museum joins Lindsborg's Christmas in July festivities July 12 with 10% discounts on Christmas-themed gift shop items and $3 servings of peppermint-flavored "Old Mill Mint" ice cream. The community celebration includes activities such as photos with Santa and bubble activities in local parks starting at 2 p.m.
Saturday also marks the launch of Sunflower Summer 2025, a state program offering free admission to more than 230 Kansas attractions for school-age children and one accompanying adult through Aug. 3.
The initiative, available at www.sunflowersummer.org, includes five Lindsborg attractions: the Old Mill Museum, Broadway RFD, Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, Small World Gallery and Red Barn Studio Museum.
"We encourage everyone with school age kids in Kansas to take advantage of this wonderful program," museum officials said in their weekly update.
The museum currently seeks construction bids for re-roofing its main building, with proposals due July 17. Contractors must conduct an in-person site visit as part of the bidding process.
Meanwhile, the museum's "Raise the Roof" fundraising campaign for the 1904 World's Fair Swedish Pavilion continues after completing stability repairs. The campaign aims to install a more durable and historically accurate roof on the structure.
Recent donations, including a $500 contribution processed last week, have brought the total raised to nearly $32,000. Contributors will have opportunities to purchase commemorative roof tiles with custom wording for a permanent honor wall.
Tax credits remain available for 2025 donations to the pavilion project, according to museum staff.
The museum's Historic Image Database project has attracted more than 422,000 views since its inception. Staff members continue processing genealogy research requests, including recent work with Swedish researchers seeking information about historical McPherson County residents.
The museum offers online Swedish genealogy workshops throughout 2025, with gift certificates available for $50 registrations or $10 for "Pursuing YOUR Past" presentations.
Weekly volunteers supporting museum operations include Tim Stewart, Karmon Almquist, Mike Koch and Jerry Hammerton.