While we’ve been to the American Swedish Institute during the holidays before, we’ve never attended Julmarknad, its annual handcraft market and festival featuring more than 60 artists. It always falls during the first weekend in December, so mark your calendar for next year — we certainly will.

Though very crowded, it made for a great little family outing. Julian tried his first Swedish cardamom bun at Fika Café (big fan), helped us do some Christmas shopping (don’t tell Jules, but we got him the cutest lion stuffy, hand-sewn from upcycled sweaters by Holly Keller of Beeper Bébé in Minneapolis), watched several pop-up musical performances, giggled at older kids kick-sledding across the snowy yard, and rode a dala horse like the lil’ cowboy he is. (Click here for some fun videos from Jules’ big day out.)

American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis, MN; 612-871-4907.