It shouldn’t be surprising that I, a person who lives in a small town, have a thing for small towns. I love a good historic downtown, quirky shops with adorable storefronts and just exploring a place at a slower pace. So, of course, I fell in love with Lindsborg, Kansas — also known as Little Sweden — on a recent trip there.
I visited Lindsborg as they were preparing for their Svensk Hyllningsfest last October. The festival only occurs every other year (the next one is in 2025), and is a weekend filled with Swedish folk dancing, Swedish food, Viking games — and, of course, the Smorgasbord. The whole town was in a frenzy getting ready for the upcoming festival, which brings thousands of tourists to their small town of about 3,500 people, located about 200 miles west of Kansas City off of I-70.
Though I wasn’t able to attend the festival, I was able to explore everything else Lindsborg has to offer — a surprising amount, for a town their size! Lindsborg has an adorable downtown, where you can find painted Dala horses aplenty — think the Kansas City CowParade, but they’re Swedish horses. If you want a Dala horse of your own, you can visit Hemslojd, Inc., where you can watch artisans carve them from wood, and they’ll even hand paint and customize one for you.
I had a wealth of activities to choose from during my short stay in Lindsborg. I particularly loved my self-guided tour of the Lindsborg Old Mill, a historic flour mill from 1898 that is still fired up at least once a year. Across the street is the Swedish Heritage Museum, which features the Swedish Pavilion from the 1904 World’s Fair. It’s almost like a little town, and kids will love exploring the barn and old schoolhouse. If you’re interested in art, I highly recommend a visit to the Red Barn Studio Museum, where you can explore the eclectic studio of Lester Raymer and also watch their artist-in-residence at work. There’s also the Birger Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery, which is a must.
If you’re looking for outdoorsy activities, the Välkommen Trail is a paved 4.5-mile path that’s great for walking or biking. It weaves its way through town, so you can take breaks for shopping. There are plenty of cute boutiques in town, plus lots of shops to find Swedish fare — both artisan goods and food. Make sure you pick up some lingonberry jam.
Speaking of food, you can start your day at The White Peacock Tea and Coffee Company, or try the Blacksmith Coffee Shop and Roastery, or both offer lunch, too. For a midday treat, Indigo Moo’d Ice Cream is a perfect stop. Then, end your day at Crown and Rye, with their great homestyle Swedish menu, or you can try the tavern-like Öl Stuga if that’s more your speed.
Lindsborg is a great reminder that not all small towns look alike, and many are worthy of an overnight visit – with plenty of culture and charm to boot.
Lindsborg is a great reminder that not all small towns look alike, and many are worthy of an overnight visit.
