Event Schedule

Click here to download the full 2023 Solvang Danish Days brochure; select 2023 event schedule highlights are posted below. Keep checking this page for 2023 event updates and new activities!

Friday,
September 15,
2023

Randel McGee as Hans Christian Andersen – A Storytime for all ages
4:00pm

Solvang Library (1745 Mission Drive) invites the public to this free storytime. Master storyteller Randel McGee will appear as Hans Christian Andersen, telling his timeless tales in person with warmth and humor. The Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley fund Solvang Library events.


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 local band, The Rincons (aka Dusty Jugz), 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
4:00pm – 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 2023 Danish Maid, Stephanie Pedersen, plus the 2023 Grand Marshals (TBA!). Velkommen Street Dance follows with Danish dancers performing to live music.

Saturday,
September 16,
2023

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


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!


Viking Encampment
10:00am – 4:00pm

The Ravens of Odin (Norse Educational Group) host a Viking Encampment in Solvang Park. Historical reenactments bring Viking times to life!


Solvang Danish Days LEGO Building Competition
10:00am – 4:00pm

Watch the building process as three of California’s top LEGO builders compete against each other with their own (downsized) takes on Solvang Danish Days Parade floats. Builders will be located throughout the village of Solvang. (Building continues on Sunday.)


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 Days
10:00am – 5:00pm

Elverhøj 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 Elverhøj 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 aebleskiver 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 Organ Concert | Bach’s Lunch: An Organic Smorgasbord!
1:00pm

Favorite festival organist James Welch is “Bach” by popular demand for this year’s Danish Days celebration, playing on the authentic pipe organ at Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road. A world-renowned concert organist, Welch’s concerts are always full of fun, with something for everyone — from the baroque to the contemporary, from the Old World to California. A direct descendant of Danes from Fjenneslev, Denmark (his grandmother was a Sorensen), he credits his Danish ancestors with his love for music. The Danish Days concert will demonstrate the lighter side of the organ, with folk tunes and some hits from opera and Broadway. And yes, there will be some Bach, too! Get there early, because this event is often a standing-room-only affair. (suggested $5.00 donation for concert)


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: The Molly Ringwald Project

Sunday,
September 17,
2023

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


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.


Solvang Danish Days LEGO Building Competition
10:00am – 12:00pm

Watch the conclusion of the building process as three of California’s top LEGO builders compete against each other with their own (downsized) takes on Solvang Danish Days Parade floats. Builders will be located throughout the village of Solvang. Judging of the builds begins at 1:30 PM, followed by a 2:30 PM winner announcement for the best build, which will occur during the Solvang Danish Days Closing Ceremony in Solvang Park.


Kid’s Korner
10:00am – 2:00pm

Activities, games and fun in Solvang Park! Featuring the popular LEGO® Tent, plus more experiences TBA!


Viking Encampment
10:00am – 4:00pm

The Ravens of Odin (Norse Educational Group) host a Viking Encampment in Solvang Park. Historical reenactments bring Viking times to life!


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 Days
10:00am – 4:00pm

Elverhøj 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
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 Elverhøj Museum of History & Art.


Free Æbleskiver Eating Contest
11:30am

Who can eat the most aebleskiver in 5 minutes?! Returning to this year’s Sunday Contest is competitive eater and eating challenge queen, Raina Huang. Sunday 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.


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

Our 2023 Danish Days Maid closes the festive weekend. The vaudevillian antics of Comedy Industries to follow.