Solvang Danish Days
Danish Heritage Festival - September 16-18, 2022. Little Denmark! Admission to Solvang Danish Days is free! Solvang Danish Days includes three parades, Danish folk dancers and musicians performing around town, plus other feature events like the Aebleskiver Breakfasts, Viking Encampment, free Saturday evening rock concert line-up, and much more!
Friday Events Saturday Events Sunday Events
See you Sept. 16-18 for #SolvangUSA #DanishDays 2022!
Tentative Schedule, please check back often for updates.
Review the schedule below from last year each year the schedule is very similar. We will post the 2022 schedule as soon as it is confirmed.
FRIDAY
Axe Throwing - 4:00pm – 9:00pm
You read that, right: this year’s Solvang Danish Days will feature an axe throwing arena hosted by the pros at SLO AXE CO. Public invited to give axe throwing a whirl! $10 for 10 throws. Tickets will be sold at the entrance to the Viking Beer & Wine Garden. (Guests must be 13 years of age or older to enjoy. Ages 13-17 need to have a parent or guardian present. Closed-toe shoes required.) #throwlikeaViking
Free Concert in Downtown Solvang - 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Catch The Agin Brothers Band performing live on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage in Parking Lot 2, in downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden. All ages welcome; must be 21 years or older to enter Viking Beer & Wine Garden. Concert is free and open to the public!
Viking Beer & Wine Garden - 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Enjoy an outdoor beer & wine garden; supports the Solvang Danish Days Foundation. (You must be 21 years of age or older to enter the Viking Beer & Wine Garden and to purchase alcoholic beverages.)
Torchlight Parade - 7:30pm
Be a part of the Torchlight Parade! Free, all welcome, candles provided. Beginning on Alisal Road and Laurel Avenue; strolling south down Alisal and ending at the Midgaard Pavilion Stage.
Opening Ceremonies - 8:00pm
Opening Ceremonies in Midgaard Pavilion introducing the 2020, 2021, and 2022 Danish Maids, Isabella Lopez, Kayla Bandel, and Aleena Madrid, plus the 2022 Grand Marshals (TBA!). Velkommen Street Dance follows with Danish dancers performing to live music.
Find more information about Solvang Danish Days
SATURDAY
Tentative Schedule, please check back often for updates.
Æbleskiver Breakfast - 8:30am – 12:30pm
Have an Æbleskiver Breakfast on Copenhagen Drive & First Street, just $8 per person (with Danish sausage, $9). Why wait in line for your Æbleskiver feast?! Buy your Æbleskiver Breakfast tickets in advance, and get to those yummy pancakes, that much faster…
BUY TICKETS
Old World Artisans Marketplace - 9:00am
Demonstrations and artisanal hand-crafted items including Scandinavian arts & crafts, woodworking, papercutting, rosemaling, fabric art, jewelry, pottery, and the ever-popular Danish Sisterhood Booth.
Kid’s Korner - 10:00am – 4:00pm
Activities, games and fun in Solvang Park! Featuring the popular LEGO® Tent, plus more experiences TBA!
Rune Reader, Tracey Boyer - 10:00am – 4:00pm
What do the Runes see in your future? Find out, during this year’s Danish Days! Genuine rune reader, right in Solvang Park. FREE for your entertainment, so step up and ask the rune stones about your fate.
Living History Festival 10:00am – 5:00pm
Elverhoj Museum of History & Art. Artisans, craftspeople, storytellers and interactive activities for all ages, plus a Viking Selfie Station! Free. 1624 Elverhoy Way, 805-686-1211 or www.elverhoj.org
Randel McGee as Hans Christian Andersen - 10:30am & 1:00pm
Young and old alike will enjoy listening to hours of tales from Denmark’s favorite author. Saturday readings: 10:30am at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum (at The Book Loft), 1:00pm at the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art.
Comedy Industries - 10:30am
Relax under the trees in Solvang Park, and laugh with Comedy Industries; Scott Meltzer and Katrine Spang-Hanssen feature amazing tricks, jokes and lively audience participation.
Axe Throwing - 11:00am – 9:00pm
You read that, right: this year’s Solvang Danish Days will feature an axe throwing arena hosted by the pros at SLO AXE CO. Public invited to give axe throwing a whirl! $10 for 10 throws. Tickets will be sold at the entrance to the Viking Beer & Wine Garden. (Guests must be 13 years of age or older to enjoy. Ages 13-17 need to have a parent or guardian present. Closed-toe shoes required.) #throwlikeaViking
Free Æbleskiver Eating Contest - 11:30am
Who can eat the most Æbleskiver in 5 minutes?! Saturday Contest will be held in the Midgaard Pavilion in Parking Lot 2, downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden. All ages welcome for the Eating Contest.
Solvang Food & Photo Tour - 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Led by Santa Barbara’s ‘Eat This, Shoot That!‘, discover the best comfort food, hidden watering holes, and artisan shops in downtown Solvang while learning about the local history. Tour includes 9-10 tastings and foodie locations, bites, and sips – with a professional tour guide – while learning foodie photo tips and tricks using your smartphone’s camera. Details will be available soon, at eatthisshootthat.com/tours/solvang (Advance ticket purchase is required.)
Viking Beer & Wine Garden - 12:00pm – 9:00pm
Enjoy an outdoor beer & wine garden; supports the Solvang Danish Days Foundation. (You must be 21 years of age or older to enter the Viking Beer & Wine Garden and to purchase alcoholic beverages.)
Danish Days Parade - 2:30pm
Catch all of the action including the Solvang Village Band atop the Carlsberg Beer Wagon, floats, equestrians, Village Dancers and more. (Line-up starts at 1:30pm on First Street, between Molle Way and Oak Street; parade begins by turning east on Copenhagen Drive, then north on Alisal Road, west on Mission Drive, south on Fourth Place, east on Copenhagen, south on Second Street, finishes at corner of Oak Street near Solvang City Hall.) As always, everyone is invited to join the fun: There is NO CHARGE to participate in the parade; click here to apply!
Comedy Industries - 3:30pm
Relax under the trees in Solvang Park, and laugh with Comedy Industries; Scott Meltzer and Katrine Spang-Hanssen feature amazing tricks, jokes and lively audience participation.
FREE Concert Line-Up - 3:00pm – 9:00pm
Featuring a line-up of live bands performing on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage in Parking Lot 2, in downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden. All ages welcome; must be 21 years or older to enter Viking Beer & Wine Garden. Concerts are free and open to the public!
3:00pm – 6:00pm: The Lowdown Dudes
6:00pm – 9:00pm: T-Bone Ramblers
Find more information about Solvang Danish Days
SUNDAY
Tentative Schedule, please check back often for updates.
Æbleskiver Breakfast - 8:30am – 12:30pm
Have an Æbleskiver Breakfast on Copenhagen Drive & First Street, just $10 per person (with Danish sausage, $12). Why wait in line for your Æbleskiver feast?! Buy your Æbleskiver Breakfast tickets in advance, and get to those yummy pancakes, that much faster…
BUY TICKETS
Kid’s Korner - 10:00am – 2:00pm
Activities, games and fun in Solvang Park! Featuring the popular LEGO® Tent, plus more experiences TBA!
Rune Reader, Tracey Boyer - 10:00am – 4:00pm
What do the Runes see in your future? Find out, during this year’s Danish Days! Genuine rune reader, right in Solvang Park. FREE for your entertainment, so step up and ask the rune stones about your fate.
Randel McGee as Hans Christian Andersen - 11:00am & 1:00pm
Young and old alike will enjoy listening to hours of tales from Denmark’s favorite author. Sunday readings: 11:00am at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum (at The Book Loft), 1:00pm at the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art.
Comedy Industries - 11:30am
Relax under the trees in Solvang Park, and laugh with Comedy Industries; Scott Meltzer and Katrine Spang-Hanssen feature amazing tricks, jokes and lively audience participation.
Children’s Parade - 2:00pm
Parade begins at Atterdag Square (corner of Atterdag Road and Copenhagen Drive), and meanders down Copenhagen to Solvang Park. All children and families are welcome to join this charming event, no charge, costumes encouraged.
Danish Days Closing Ceremony in Solvang Park - 2:30pm
All three of our Danish Days Maids (2020, 2021, 2022) close the festive weekend. The vaudevillian antics of Comedy Industries to follow.
Find more information about Solvang Danish Days
About the Solvang Danish Days Foundation
In early 1995, the Solvang City Council approached Santa Ynez Valley residents from long-established, local Danish families and other interested groups, about possibly setting up a non-profit foundation – Solvang Danish Days Foundation – to formally plan and organize the increasingly popular, annual Danish Days festivities. The original Solvang Danish Days Foundation board members were Ken Andersen, Brenda Anderson, Hans Birkholm, Max Hanberg, Howard Petersen, David Rasmussen and Henry Skytt. The Foundation members meet throughout the year to ready each year’s celebration. Donations and volunteers for the event, are always welcome; please contact the Foundation for more information.