The Haggin Museum in Stockton will come alive Thursday with the sound of traditional Swedish folk music from Mantecan Tim Rued’s nyckelharpa and fiddle.

The museum is inviting the public to come and “celebrate Valborgsmassoafton – the night when winter is banished.” The entertainment is free, with regular admission to the museum.

The event is part of the Haggin Museum’s series called first and third Thursdays, a regular program which features varied presentations that include live music and talks about the art, among others. Guests are treated not only to the special program on tap for that evening but also to complimentary wine and snacks from 6:30 until 9 p.m.

In addition to playing his violin and nyckelharpa, “I will give a presentation of the traditional music of  Sweden,” said Rued, the only nyckelharpa player “that I know of in the greater Central Valley.”

There are several of them in the Bay Area and one in Redding, but that’s “about all that I know of,” said Rued who grew up in a musical family and has been performing at a variety of venues, from weddings and anniversaries to events such as the annual day of the arts at the Manteca Historical Museum in the summer, and at various churches. One Christmas, he played his nyckelharpa and his antique harp during the early morning service at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Manteca.

As a member of the Manteca Artist Guild, he has also joined other artists in providing the entertainment at the annual garden tour sponsored by the Manteca Garden Club. He will be part of the group once again that will provide entertainment at the final house in the Saturday, May 12, garden tour which will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Rued is most excited about a music tour in Sweden that he will be leading this summer.

“We will be among hundreds of fiddlers and nyckelharpa players there!” said an excited Rued.

Seating at the Haggin Museum’s Swedish Folk Music to be presented by Rued is limited and will be provided on a first come, first served basis.

Complimentary wine for the evening is courtesy of the Wiebel Family Vineyards & Winery.

For further details about the Haggin Museum’s 1st & 3rd Thursdays with Food & Drink, contact Curator of Education Lisa Cooperman at (209) 940-6315 or send an email to education@hagginmuseum.org.

To get more details about the tour in Sweden to be led by Rued, visit his web site at www.folksweden.com where you can listen to samples of his nyckelharpa music.

The Haggin Museum, which is celebrating 80 years, is located inside Victory Park at 1201 N. Pershing Ave. in Stockton. To get to the museum from Manteca, take northbound Interstate 5, exit at Pershing Avenue and proceed to Picardy Drive, the street across from Acacia Street.