The 2015 version of Solvang Danish Days (September 18-20, 2015), California’s premier Danish heritage festival, continues to expand upon its varied activities – melding more modern Danish practices with traditional ways – in an effort to exemplify everything Danish; these efforts have produced a few new tweaks to Danish Days including advance, on-line ticketing for the paid portions of the weekend, new Viking Beer & Wine Garden hours and participants, and some updates to this year’s Danish Days Dinner Dance.
Solvang Danish Days 2015 will once again provide attendees with a total Danish immersion experience while helping to preserve Solvang’s authentic Danish heritage, and will offer an on-line purchase only “Dane For A Day” VIP ticket bundle, for guests looking to “live like Vikings” throughout the event weekend. In addition to the VIP ticket package, those looking to gain quicker entrance to either Saturday or Sunday’s Aebleskiver Breakfasts, may now purchase tickets for either day’s Breakfast on-line, in advance. Also new to this year’s Danish Days, is an ATM trailer that will be conveniently-located, and will include a phone charging station. All advance, on-line tickets are now available, here: squareup.com/market/solvang-days.
Solvang Danish Days’ numerous offerings, entailing activities for all ages, range from a fan-favorite eating contest surrounding the iconic Danish pastry rounds, Aebleskiver; to a Danish-style beer and wine garden serving Danish import, Carlsberg beer, alongside local brews, wines and spirits; to a historical reenactment in the form of a Viking Encampment; to chainsaw wood-carving demonstrations, an Old World artisanal crafts marketplace and a contemporary Solvang merchant walk.
Solvang Danish Days 2015 is editing the Viking Beer & Wine Garden portion of the weekend with new hours – Friday, 5:00 PM-10:00 PM; Saturday, 11:00 AM-8:00 PM – and a spirited mix of participants. Pacific Beverage Company will be on-site, pouring the iconic Danish suds, Carlsberg, and Santa Barbara Wine Country will be represented in the Viking Beer & Wine Garden, by local winery, Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards.
Local brew producers, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., will also be on-hand, pouring their Danish Red Lager, a Vienna-style lager that pays tribute to the Danish Settlers of Solvang and to Figueroa Mountain co-founder, Jaime Dietenhofer’s, wife Meighan’s Danish heritage. Figueroa Mountain will also be pouring a limited edition Dark Belgian Strong Ale, aged in aquavit barrels named after the home of the Gods from Norse Mythology. Figueroa Mountain will also pour additional beers from their core line-up.
Also new to the 2015 Viking Beer & Wine Garden is local craft distillery, Ascendant Spirits, which will be pouring tasters of their new Aquavit, to be released Danish Days weekend.
Overall admission to Solvang Danish Days is free, and entertainment options abound during the weekend with three parades, folk dancers and Danish musicians performing in spots scattered about the town, plus three feature events on Saturday evening: the Danish Days Dinner Dance; Solvang 2nd Century Street Party, featuring live music; and a special “MADS MEN” fundraising concert at the outdoor Solvang Festival Theater, with two-time Grammy Award-winning Danish violinist, Mads Tolling, who will blend “old” and “new” as he performs instrumental hits from the 1960s “MAD MEN” era.
The 2015 Danish Days Dinner Dance (Saturday, September 19, 5:30 PM) is “kicking off clogs” with a dance party and a Danish-style barbeque complete with the requisite barbequed pork loin, red cabbage and potatoes, plus beer from Firestone Walker Brewing Company. Guests at the annual Danish Days fundraising event, which supports the Solvang Danish Days Foundation, will be entertained by Santa Barbara’s “hottest dance band”, Area 51. Tickets for the 2015 Danish Days Dinner Dance may be purchased in advance; more information is available at danishdaysdinnerdance.com.
