A living partnership between Scandia, Minnesota, and Mellerud, Sweden that trades ideas, culture, and lifelong friendships—anchored by week-long home stays with welcoming host families every year.
Our Story
Scandia’s roots run deep in Sweden. Many of our founding families—names like Dahlin, Edström, and Andersson—came from the Mellerud area more than 150 years ago. They built homes, churches, and traditions that still shape our town today.
In 2019, those connections came full circle. A chance meeting with a genealogist from Mellerud sparked conversations, emails, and Zoom calls that turned into something lasting: in 2022, Scandia and Mellerud became Sister Cities.
VISIT SWEDEN
Every July, Scandia residents trade pine forests and lakes for… well, pine forests and lakes in Sweden. Our Sister City, Mellerud, feels both familiar and new—where neighbors open their homes, parade floats roll down the main street, and you’ll learn that “fika” is basically coffee and pastries elevated to an art form.
This isn’t a bus tour with headsets kind of trip. It’s about living like a local. You’ll spend a week with a Swedish host family, sharing meals, stories, and laughter. One day you may find yourself marching in the annual summer parade, the next exploring the Dalsland Art Museum or sipping coffee by Lake Vänern. And yes, birthdays here come with cake in bed and singing before sunrise—don’t say we didn’t warn you.
SHOP
$25.00
Apparel
$45.00
Apparel
$50.00