History of Karl Oskar Days
Karl Oskar Days History
In 1948, the Lindstrom Commercial Club began the Water Carnival tradition. The carnival featured powerboat and rowboat races, swimming events, and novelty events such as the canoe fight. (Below: the Water Carnival banner flying over main street.)
The Water Carnival was renamed Karl Oskar Days in 1963 to better commemorate the Swedish pioneer settlers. Karl Oskar and Kristina are fictitious characters in Vilhelm Moberg’s books about Swedish emigration to America. A statue of Karl and Kristina currently resides on the west end of Lindström, welcoming visitors and residents to our downtown. Karl is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of a new land, while Kristina looks back toward her homeland. This statue was originally built for a float in the Karl Oskar Days parade in the late 1960’s, and was placed in its current location in 1970. The statue was modeled after a statue that was erected in 1960 in Karlsham, Sweden, which commemorates the Swedish pioneers of the Chisago Lakes Area.
In 1996, the King and Queen of Sweden visited Lindström. The 25 year anniversary of this royal visit was commemorated at the 2021 Karl Oskar Days celebration with the flying of a Swedish flag, which will continue to be flown each year during Karl Oskar Days.
Photo courtesy of Sally Barott