This year’s Jamestown Julmarknad will take place in nine different locations. The celebration takes place on Saturday. Submitted photo

Jamestown will celebrate one of our Swedish traditions with the annual Julmarknad (Swedish Christmas Market Day) on Saturday. In Sweden’s past, people would bring their homemade items to market and exchange with their neighbors. It was a way to get ready for the Christmas season. Even today, outdoor markets are set up all over Sweden, even in the Winter, where people come to shop for unique Christmas gifts.

This year’s Jamestown Julmarknad will take place in nine different locations. The beginning focus will be the Handicraft and Swedish Imported Gifts Marketplace at Jamestown Community College’s Hamilton Collegiate Center from 9 a.m. to noon. There is no admission charge and parking is plentiful and free. Over 15 tables of unique Scandinavian gifts will be presented. Local artisans will offer their creations such as Norwegian painted, Hardanger embroidery, jewelry and linen items. Some booths offer a mix of miscellaneous items both old and new.

Besides shopping, the Julmarknad has many other events. The Scandinavian Culture Day will be occurring at the same time with free workshops about the Swedish language, knitting, Swedish weaving, Norwegian painting, Viking games, Christmas ring dances, or making an ornament. For a small fee, one can make a tomte to bring home.

At noon, the morning will be capped off with a traditional Julbord, a serving of traditional Swedish food items. The menu includes Julskinka, Swedish meatballs, korv, salmon, lutfisk, sylta, pickled herring, fruit soup, rice pudding, Jansson’s temptation — with and without anchovies, Swedish brown beans, vort limpa and much more. All the above food items for a donation of $7.

After eating, it is time to visit the other sites of this year’s Julmarknad. One can go around the corner to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, 311 Curtis Street for free admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to see the artwork and memorabilia of America’s great naturalist of the 20th Century. A door prize of a signed Roger Tory Peterson print will be offered along with refreshments and a used book sale.

Next head out to 832 Foote Ave. to Ecklof Bakery for samples and another door prize. Seasonal baked items such as vort limpa, spritz, pepparkakor, holiday cookies, cardamom braids and rolls will be available along with all their regular baked items.  One can enjoy a korv burger or shop for deli meats and cheeses.  Swedish cooking and knitting books are also available along with other Christmas items.

Nearby is Country Woods Country Store and Antiques at 1771 Foote Ave. Besides cookies, coffee and a $25 raffle be sure to visit their Swedish Room. It is well stocked with traditional red wooden candelabra, tomtar, straw goats, ornaments, garlands, candles, rugs and many other decorative items.

Fenton History Center at 67 Washington St. is all decorated for Christmas including their Swedish room with a southern Swedish Ljuskrona Christmas tree. Adults $10 and children free.

Peterson Farm on Fluvanna Ext. has a free sampling of Swedish foods including Julskinka (Christmas ham), meatballs, yellow pea soup and alcohol free glogg.  While snacking, you can place your order for Julskinka, sylta, lutfisk and korv. Their Scandinavian Gift Shop has many Swedish items such as books, ornaments, napkins, straw goats, food products and other items.  Enter their drawing for a gift basket.  Peterson Farm is now the home of Dalah — st Roasters where they roast their own coffee.

Wegmans at 945 Fairmount Ave., will have Swedish music from 1:30-4 p.m. by Svenska Spelm — and the Thule Lodge Adult and Children’s Folk Dance Teams performing at 2 p.m.

If you are still hungry in the evening, Immanuel Lutheran Church is offering homemade korv, rye bread and pies for dinner.  They might be sold but so call 488-1555 to check.

To get started into the weekend, on Friday only, Jones Valhalla, 306 N. Main St. will offer a family recipe korv burger lunch from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information call 716-665-0883 or visit scandinavianjamestown.org or find them on Facebook.