Photo by Deb Gau Brody Louwagie watched as Linda and Howard Dahlager cooked up some traditional Norwegian lefse during the Lyon County Museum’s Holiday Open House on Thursday. Special holiday events have made a return at the museum this year, and organizers say attendance has been good.

MARSHALL — There were all kinds of holiday goodies to try at the Lyon County Museum on Thursday evening, whether you were interested in American-style Christmas cookies or Norwegian lefse.

During the museum’s holiday open house, there was a line of people waiting their turn to try some freshly-cooked lefse made by Howard and Linda Dahlager.

Linda Dahlager laid a thin circle of dough on a griddle as Brody Louwagie watched.

“Count to 10,” Dahlager said, while they waited to flip the lefse over to cook on the other side.

Participation has been good for holiday events at the museum this year, said Lyon County Historical Society Director Jennifer Andries.

“It’s been pretty steady,” Andries said of Thursday’s open house. It seemed like area residents have been happy to get out and attend community events again, she said.

Attendance was up at the Historical Society’s Holiday Home Tour last Sunday, and members of the public have been coming in to see the ninth annual indoor Christmas tree walk at the museum. The tree walk opened on Nov. 20, and Andries said museum attendance was good on the weekend after Thanksgiving.

This year, a total of 19 decorated trees are on display at the museum.

“That is up from last year,” Andries said. Last year’s Christmas tree walk was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic when Minnesota temporarily closed establishments like museums.

“Last year, we had it and then found out we had to close,” Andries said. The display went virtual, with the museum sharing photos of the trees.

This year, the tree walk is back in-person. Participants including area families, community organizations, nonprofits and businesses have all decorated their own Christmas trees.

“We have some new groups this year,” Andries said. Some of the new participants include Marshall Public Schools’ Pride In the Tiger Foundation, the Lyon County DFL, and the Marshall Area Dementia Awareness Network.

Visitors can vote for their favorite trees by leaving a monetary donation in boxes near each tree. The top three trees will be eligible for prizes, and the proceeds from the boxes will go to support the Historical Society.

Along with the Christmas tree walk, the museum’s Heritage Room has been decorated for Christmas, and features displays of vintage toys from the museum’s collection. It’s a fun opportunity for museum visitors, because the toys aren’t often on display, Andries said.

This year, the tree walk and Heritage Room exhibit will be available to view through the end of December.

The museum’s holiday hours through Dec. 31 will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays. The museum will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24, and will be closed on Dec. 25.