Despite wet weather, enthusiastic crowd enjoys live music from the Molly Ringwald Project while waiting to welcome 2026
With rains hitting the Santa Ynez Valley in the days leading up to Jan. 1, organizers of the second annual Copenhagen Countdown on New Year’s Eve at Solvang Park had concerns about whether the event would come off.
However, Solvang Parks and Rec Marketing and Events Coordinator Candice Libera said a conversation with the day’s booked entertainment, the local ‘80s tribute band the Molly Ringwald Project, put to rest any thoughts that the Countdowns would be canceled.
“With the rain coming down earlier in the week and forecast throughout today, we really wondered about having to call it off,” said Libera, who added that many attractions and vendors, like face painters, had to be eliminated. “However, when we talked to the band, they said ‘we’ll be there, no problem,’ and I figured, OK, if they can come here and play, then we can go forward with it.”
And so it was, as the six-piece Molly Ringwald Project entertained a loud and enthusiastic crowd on the afternoon of Dec. 31 in the newest part of the city’s Julefest Celebration.
Starting at 2 p.m., band played their customary 1980s favorites such as “Don’t Stop Believing,” “Heartbreaker,” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” as the audience cheered and danced up a storm — so to speak — and those who chose to sit could do so in canopies provided to protect them from any rains, which during the show were at a minimum.
The City of Solvang began the new tradition of a Copenhagen Countdown in 2024, the idea being to bring families to a New Year’s celebration without having to stay up until midnight, and have something to bridge the gap between Christmas and the Solvang Tree Burn that signifies the end of the city’s Julefest.
It was an event that was welcome by locals as well as out-of-towners. A group of Solvang residents, led by Kim and Matt Farris were celebrating in style, having a table set up in their little spot in the park, with food and drink at the ready.
“This is such a great event, and it’s a really good crowd here,” Kim Farris said while enjoying the music. “All the things they’ve done this month have been good for everyone here, and I’m glad Solvang has found its niche as a holiday destination.”
Visiting from out of town was Sophia Hsu, from LA County, who was celebrating her birthday, and was even invited by the band to say a few words.
“I just want to say ‘God Bless America’ and please pray for America,” Hsu said to a rousing ovation.
After the event, Hsu, who could be seen dancing to the music with her husband, Cliff, said her words came from her religious faith and love for her adopted country.
“I came here 40 years ago, and I feel the spirit of this country and the holiday spirit,” she said. “God came back into my life, and I went back to my native Taiwan to spread his word, and have come back, and I just wanted to let people know this is a wonderful country and we need to stay united.”
Halfway through the band’s set, its members stopped at 3 p.m., when it officially became the new year in Solvang’s sister city of Copenhagen, Denmark, to count down to zero and celebrate the “new year” in Solvang. After that, the MRP played some more of the ’80s hits, ending with “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds, which was in the movie “The Breakfast Club,” which co-starred, of course, Molly Ringwald.
Afterward, as the band started packing up for a gig in San Luis Obispo later that night, members of the MRP expressed how much it meant to play in the event.
“Solvang’s always been good to us,” said Rob Cantrell, who in addition to being the bass player is also a teacher and girls soccer coach at Santa Ynez High. “We started out here in the Valley and we always loving playing here. We would have come for this show no matter what the weather.”
Guitarist/vocalist Ian Musgrove echoed those thoughts and pointed out the crowd for the New Year’s Eve afternoon event.
“The crowd was great today; they were really into it and there was dancing all over the place,” he said. “That’s what makes it super-special to come to play in the Valley.”
With the success of the first two Countdowns, there’s no doubt that people will be around for the next one on Dec. 31, 2026.
