Signature event punctuates three days of annual Solvang celebration
By Pamela Dozois
Contributing Writer
The 88th annual Solvang Danish Days Parade was held on Saturday, Sept. 20, as part of the three-day celebration of all things Danish. This year’s theme was “Be Happy — Vær Glæde!.”
Approximately 25 parade entries joined in the festivities with the Color Guard leading the way, followed by the Boy Scouts carrying a banner welcoming everyone to Danish Days. Next up was the Danish Maid, Addie Madrid, riding in a red Mustang, followed by the Nordhoff High School Rangers Marching Band, then the Grand Marshals of this year’s parade, Brenda and Mark Anderson. Celebrating the famous author Hans Christian Andersen was John Clark wearing his top hat, City of Solvang staff and officials,
two colorful Solvang Trollies, members of the Viking Charities, the Viking Ship filled with cheering Vikings, Danish Maid 2040, residents of the Atterdag Village, the Authentic Leather Patch Co., and the gaily decorated ribboned float flanked by the beautifully garbed dancers from Fossemalle Dance Studio.
A group of elves announced Julefest, the “Nesser are Coming,” and advised us all to “Be Happy.” The Perrin family waved to onlookers, followed by an entry by the Padilla Tile & Construction Company throwing candy to the children lining the sidewalks. Next along the parade route was Birkholm’s Bakery,
Franciscan friars dressed in their brown robes, Kay Dominguez directing the Santa Ynez Valley Jazz Band, beautifully dressed señoritas, one on horseback, then the Figueroa Mountain Brewery bus displaying images of its colorful brews, followed by the Carlsberg Pilsner float carrying the Solvang Village Band.
And for the grand finale, a huge Beehive float, as tall as the surrounding buildings, rolled by with a group of men and women all dressed in bright yellow beehive T-shirts complete with bee antennae on their heads, courtesy of the Nielsen Building Materials family and friends.
A group of ladies from the Visalia Gadabouts, a senior group, came by bus just for the day. A visit to Solvang for Danish Days is on their yearly agenda. They said they did a lot of shopping. “Now I’m broke,” said one of the ladies. They bought T-shirts for their grandchildren, socks they said “were so cute,” cookies, thread, and a ring for one of them and, of course, a mug. “Whenever I go to a new place, I buy a mug and a magnet,” said another, all gleefully speaking in unison.
“This is the first time my friend and I have been to Solvang in more than 25 years,” said Lupe Ramizez. “The parade was wonderful. We caught lots of candy — we were just like kids. I even got a little wet from the water sprayed from one of the floats. We had a great time. Our whole visit was awesome.”
