Swedish Jamestown opens their doors on Saturday for Market Day full of food samples, giveaways, music, folk dancing, workshops and other events in preparation for Christmas.

The traditional event in Sweden is now part of the local community sponsored by the Scandinavian Studies Program.

The market is held Saturday at Jamestown Community College’s Hamilton Collegiate Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for 32 tables of vendors. New vendors will join our local crafters to share their homemade as well as imported products. Homemade items include tomtar (Swedish gnomes), cookies, tablecloths, table runners, tote bags, aprons, pillowcases, and jewelry. There will be hand-painted items in the Swedish style plus woven belts and a wide variety of items made of wood and straw. In addition, there will be a treasure trove of vintage items and books. Many new imported items such as Swedish God Jul wrapping paper and greeting cards along with an expanded array of items will be on display.

There will be door prizes, coffee or lingonberry drink, refreshments, the Lucia procession, live music, a workshop on Swedish weaving, a Viking game and crafts. At noon a sampling of Swedish Christmas food such as ham, rice pudding, korv and Jansson’s Temptation (potato) will be served for a small donation.

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, next to the college, will offer free admission, tours, refreshments, marshmallow roasting and a door prize between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. In addition to original artwork by Jamestown’s Roger Tory Peterson, there is an exhibit by artist Guy Coheleach entitled “Wildlife in Art.”

On Foote Avenue is Jamestown’s Swedish Ecklof Bakery. The bakery is offering samples from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with freshly made Swedish seasonal items such as vort limpa bread, spritz and pepparkakor cookies, cardamom braids and rolls, Tom and Jerry mix, scorper, almond braids and tarts. The menu includes korv burger, Swedish deli meats and cheeses such as Bond Ost. A door prize drawing will be held.

A short distance away is Country Woods Country Store which has a Scandinavian room with items such as traditional red wooden candelabra, tomtar, straw goats, ornaments, garlands, candles, rugs, Scandinavian purses, linens, and many other decorative items.

While driving through town, one can stop at the Fenton History Center, decorated for Christmas including the southern Sweden Ljuskrona Christmas tree in the Swedish Room. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; admission is $10 with accompanying children 18 and under free. The theme this year is “A Christmas Carol.”

If you are still hungry, Peterson Farm offers samples of Swedish Christmas foods including meatballs, Julskinka (Christmas Ham), yellow pea soup, and alcohol-free glogg. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store will host a gift basket giveaway.

Wegmans, open 24 hours, offers Scandinavian dinners to go on Saturday while pick-up items include Norm’s korv, Bond ost, salt herring, lingonberry sylt, or WASA products. Samples will be offered. Svenska Spelman will be playing Swedish music from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and the Thule Folk Dancers will perform at 2 p.m.

For more information call 665-0883 or check out the web site or Facebook page “scandinavianjamestown.”