Storybook Summer in Solvang, California: Celebrate the Season in "The Danish Capital of America" with Annual Festivals and Weekly Events
SOLVANG, Calif. (PRWEB) May 18, 2023 -- Solvang, California, the Danish-settled village in Santa Ynez Valley wine country, is rolling out the welcome mat for varied seasonal celebrations with the announcement of its line-up of summer happenings, June through mid-September 2023. Currently-scheduled events* covering the warm weather months run the gamut from Pride and Fourth of July festivities, to beloved cultural affairs, offering family-friendly entertainment and experiences set in the California Central Coast town known for idyllic nods to its European roots through historical Danish architecture and road trip-worthy landmarks.
Solvang’s summer of events kicks off Wednesday, June 21, 2023, with the Solvang Chamber of Commerce’s Music in the Park program, running 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM every Wednesday through August 30. Eleven different bands are slated for the series in Solvang Park, with music styles ranging from cello blues and soul, to 50s surf and classic rock. Locals and tourists are welcome to bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and snacks for the free family-friendly, alfresco concerts which present picnic-perfect opportunities.
Wednesdays in Solvang also bring the weekly Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market, held during the summer from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM along the 400 block of First Street, directly adjacent to Solvang Park. Regional farmers, ranchers, and other local food and beverage crafters sell their fresh-from-the-farm wares, many of which are ideal snacks to sustain Music in the Park audiences.
“Our midweek entertainment options demonstrate just how self-contained Solvang’s downtown core really is,” commented Solvang City Manager, Randy Murphy. “Locals and visitors stroll through town picking up produce and other edible goods at the weekly Solvang Farmers Market or from some of our many culinary establishments, paired with wine or beer from our local tasting rooms and craft brewers. Then they hit the park for an evening of open-air music. It’s small-town America, but with a truly unique-to-Southern California, Danish backdrop.”
Aligning with the City of Solvang’s declaration of June 2023 as Pride Month, SYV Pride, produced by Santa Ynez Valley’s SYV Pride organization, begins Thursday, June 1. The month-long event line-up will include multiple winery-hosted happenings, arts and crafts activities, a family-friendly silent disco, and the month’s main attraction: the Saturday, June 24, SYV Pride Parade and Festival. The second annual SYV Pride Parade starts at 11:00 AM at Alisal Road and Oak Street in Solvang, and rolls through the downtown area with floats, music, and more, ending with a family-centric Pride Festival at 12:00 PM in Solvang Park. Open to adults and kids of all ages, the SYV Pride Festival will feature live music, food booths, and a beer and wine garden. Further SYV Pride updates and event schedule details, as well as ticket information for certain SYV Pride events, may be found at http://www.SYVPride.org and @syv.pride.
The Fourth of July ushers in Solvang Rotary’s annual July 4th Parade (11:00 AM) with miles of smiles created by dozens upon dozens of parade entrants comprising classic cars, prancing horses, dance troupes, drum lines, and brass sections. The July 4th Parade route winds its way through town traversing most of Solvang’s main thoroughfares, as high school marching bands, motorcycle and car clubs, floats crafted by local businesses, and animated farm animal and pet entries put on their best patriotic display. As night falls, Santa Ynez Valley Rotary’s fireworks festival lights up the Solvang sky in a show based next to historic Old Mission Santa Inés.
California’s premier Danish heritage festival, Solvang Danish Days (http://www.solvangdanishdays.org), celebrates its 86th return with a three-day event weekend, Friday through Sunday, September 15-17, 2023. Solvang Danish Days, which honors the 1911 establishment of Solvang by Danish-Americans, encompasses activities for all ages, ranging from fan-favorite food events surrounding Aebleskiver, the famous Danish pastry rounds; to a Danish-style beer and wine garden serving Danish import, Carlsberg beer, alongside local brews, wines and festival eats; to an axe-throwing arena where guests can “unleash their inner Viking.”
Admission to Solvang Danish Days is free, and entertainment options abound during the weekend with three parades, live concerts, plus folk dancers and Danish musicians performing in locations scattered about the town. The festival also aims to please the next generation of Danish Days fans with multiple pastimes, including story-telling sessions with Hans Christian Andersen and an activity tent featuring LEGO ® . Also returning to Solvang Danish Days this year is a town-wide, professional LEGO building competition. All further Danish Days event details and programming, TBA.
“Solvang’s summer events showcase the village’s Danish-rooted customs and inherent European charm, with the grand bonus of patriotic and Pride parades, free, live music in Solvang Park, and the ultimate Solvang festival, Danish Days,” Murphy continued. “Together, these experiences highlight the diversity and authenticity of our community, which are on display for the delight of our locals as well as tourists from around the globe.”
Dog-friendly and ideal for kids, Solvang is known for its Danish-American vibe, architecture and design details, pastries and bakeries, and array of wine tasting options. Solvang also boasts dozens of unique boutiques, restaurants, and gourmet food purveyors. Carefully curated indie booksellers and high-end home goods suppliers mingle with fairy tale-like children’s stores and museum gift shops. Solvang’s foodie destinations offer up everything from elevated street cuisine – like locally-sourced fish tacos on handmade tortillas, and comforting ramen noodles – to European-style pretzels and sausages, to Italian standbys or iconic Danish dishes, to elevated new-Californian fare in the form of Michelin-honored menus. Solvang visitors sip small-batch, locally roasted coffee, shop for exotic, hand-bottled spice blends, or enjoy Tiki cocktails and craft beer, all part of an indulgent and one-of-a-kind California Central Coast shopping and playing escape.
About the City of Solvang
Known as “The Danish Capital of America,” the City of Solvang is located in the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County, California. Founded by a group of Danish-Americans in 1911 and later incorporated in 1985, Solvang offers a taste of Denmark in Southern California. Danish design and Old World charm fill Solvang’s numerous interior courtyards, cozy communal spaces, and open-air venues, where vacation itineraries for all unfold. The walkable town features plentiful free parking options for locals and day-trippers, and more than 20 lodging options for staycation-ers, weekenders and midweek travelers, at all vacation budget levels. The Solvang Visitor Center, located at 1639 Copenhagen Drive, is open daily, 9:30 AM-5:30 PM (closed briefly for lunch). For more information, including travel itinerary ideas and inspiration for things to do, where to eat and drink, and places to stay, follow our adventures on Instagram and Facebook: @SolvangUSA and facebook.com/VisitSolvangUSA.
*Please Note: Always check status of events and all event updates prior to making travel plans.
Anna Ferguson-Sparks, City of Solvang, https://cityofsolvang.com, 1 8773272656, [email protected]
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