Star Report

The 80th celebration of “Solvang Danish Days” (www.solvangdanishdays.org) will be under way, with three days of activities scheduled for Friday through Sunday, September 16 through 18. The 2016 version of the annual festival will see some new additions and returning favorites to the weekend’s event line-up, as well as an opportunity for guests to get in on the action via a call for volunteers to assist with the event’s popular pair of Aebleskiver Breakfasts, taking place on both Saturday and Sunday mornings, in the middle of downtown Solvang.

Danish Days event organizers are asking any parties interested in serving, or performing as line bakers, during either of the two Aebleskiver Breakfasts(Saturday and Sunday, September 17 and 18, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM), to please contact Denise Birkholm at danishdays@aol.com. Danish Days organizers request that Breakfast volunteers arrive in Danish costume; if help is needed with costume arrangements, volunteers should include this information in their initial outreach.

Young Danish Days fans will, this year, have their pick of various activities in the festival’s “Kid’s Korner”, in Solvang Park (Mission Drive and First Street; Saturday and Sunday, September 17 and 18, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM). Local non-profits and organizations have created a dedicated, child-centric playscape to includean animal petting zoo from Healing Heart Sanctuary; face painting and dress-up fun by Solvang Faeriefest; a bounce house courtesy of Girl Scouts Troop 50767; ping-pong pool games (by the Robotics FIRST 3512 Spartatroniks) and robotics demonstrations (by the Patterson Road Elementary School Panthertroniks); the returning LEGO^®-filled play area; and snacks in the form of snow cones, sponsored by National Charity League, plus hot dogs andlemonade by The Ranch Church.

The Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden (Friday, September 16, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Saturday, September 17, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM) will, once again, feature local brew producers, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., pouring the brand’s Danish Red Lager, Figtoberfest Lager, Fig Mtn Mosaic, Hoppy Poppy IPA, among other beers from the company’s roster. Joining Figueroa Mountain in the Viking Beer & Wine Garden, is Pacific Beverage Company, pouring the iconic Danish suds, Carlsberg, plus Santa Barbara Wine Country label, Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, and additional wine options courtesy of Solvang’s Nielsen’s Market. The 2016 Viking Beer & Wine Garden will also welcome members of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club, who will be on-hand to host Danish Days guests.

The Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden is located in Parking Lot 2, in downtown Solvang, off of Copenhagen Drive (between 1st and 2nd Streets). Guestsmust be 21 years or older to enter Viking Beer & Wine Garden.

More information about Solvang Danish Days, including a history of the event, updated 2016 schedule and details, parade applications and complete contact information, is available at www.SolvangDanishDays.org; event weekend highlights are included at the end of this release.

Ticketed portions of Danish Days weekend are now on sale, at solvang-danish-days.eventbrite.com. Solvang Danish Days is on Facebook, Twitter andInstagram, at facebook.com/SolvangDanishDays, twitter.com/DanishDays and instagram.com/DanishDays.

Danish Days Event Schedule

Friday September 16

4 p.m. –

Free Concert in Solvang Park

Chainsaw Carver George Kenny will showcase his skills

5 p.m. –

Viking Beer and Wine Garden – proceeds benefit Solvang Danish Days Foundation * Must be 21 and older

7:30 p.m. –

Torchlight Parade – Candles provided and begins on Alisal Road at Laurel Avenue and end at Midgaard Pavillion Stage

8 p.m. –

Opening Ceremonies – Introducing Danish Maid Natalya Nielsen and Grand Marshals. Velkommen Street Dance followed with Danish dancers and a short story natated by Randel McGee as Hans Christian Andersen.

Saturday September 17

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. –

Aebleskiver Breakfast – Have the popular Danish pancakes on Copenhagen Drive at First Street. $7 per perseon and $8 with Danish sausage.

9 a.m. –

Old World Artisans Marketplace – Demonstrations and artisanal hand-crafted items including Scandinavian arts & crafts, woodworking, papercutting, rosemaling, fabric art, jewelry, pottery, and the ever-popular Danish Sisterhood Booth.

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

First Street Solvang Merchant Walk – Stroll Solvang’s First Street for a peek at wares from numerous local, unique-to-Solvang merchants, without leaving the main Danish Days festivities. Each shop represented will also offer Danish Days deals in their storefront location.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Kids Corner – Snacks, beverages, games and fun in Solvang Park! Featuring LEGOS and the supervised Play & Rest Area.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Viking Encampment – Visit the Ravens of Odin, Norse Educational Group, as they bring Viking times to life through historical reenactments. Features a Viking Age Weaponry demo on Saturday.

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Living History Festival – Elverhoj Museum of History & Art. Artisans, craftspeople, storytellers and interactive activities for all ages. Free. 1624 Elverhoy Way, 805-686-1211 or www.elverhoj.org

10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Randel McGee as Hans Christian Andersen – 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, 1:00pm at the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art.

11 a.m. – 8 p.m. –

Viking Beer and Wine Garden – proceeds benefit Solvang Danish Days Foundation * Must be 21 and older

11:30 a.m.

Aebleskiver Eating Contest – Who can eat the most aebleskiver in 5 minutes?! Corner of Copenhagen Drive & First Street. All ages welcome.

12:45 p.m. & 3:15 p.m.

Luce Puppet Company will be performing on a colorful, portable puppet stage. Full of fun and fantasy, lots of interaction for kids to exercise their imaginations. Saturday, September 19, 12:45pm @ Hans Christian Andersen Museum; 3:15pm @ Elverhøj Museum of History & Art.

1 p.m.

Danish Days Organ Concert – World-renowned concert organist, James Welch, will entertain in his Danish Days concert, “Bach’s Lunch: An Organic Smorgasbord”. With lively tunes from across the centuries, folk melodies, and hits from Baroque to Broadway at Bethania Lutheran Church (603 Atterdag Road) will also feature James’ son Nicholas, a pianist and organist protégé.

2:30 p.m.

Danish Days Parade – 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.)

5 – 8 p.m.

Solvang 2nd Century Street Party – Featuring a live band 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 at the party (must be 21 years or older to enter Viking Beer & Wine Garden). Concert is free and open to the public.

5:30 – 10 p.m.

Danish Days Dinner Dance – Danish-style barbeque followed by dancing and live music; Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall, 1745 Mission Drive. Tickets start at $10 per person, for the dance portion only. All proceeds support the Solvang Danish Days Foundation. For more information and to buy tickets, visit danishdaysdinnerdance.com.

Sunday September 18

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. –

Aebleskiver Breakfast – Have the popular Danish pancakes on Copenhagen Drive at First Street. $7 per perseon and $8 with Danish sausage.

9 a.m. –

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Kids Corner – Snacks, beverages, games and fun in Solvang Park! Featuring LEGOS and the supervised Play & Rest Area.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Viking Encampment – Visit the Ravens of Odin, Norse Educational Group, as they bring Viking times to life through historical reenactments. Features a Viking Age Weaponry demo on Saturday.

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

11 a.m. – 8 p.m. –

Viking Beer and Wine Garden – proceeds benefit Solvang Danish Days Foundation * Must be 21 and older

11:30 a.m.

Aebleskiver Eating Contest – Who can eat the most aebleskiver in 5 minutes?! Corner of Copenhagen Drive & First Street. All ages welcome.

12:45 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.

2 p.m. –

Childrens Parade – 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.

2:45 p.m.

Danish Days Closing Ceremony in Solvang Park – Danish Days Maid Natalya Nielsen closes the festive weekend. Concert featuring Danish musicians, Manne, to follow.