Solvang Danish Days Celebration Set for September
16-18, 2011
Solvang, California, USA – The "Danish Capital
of America" celebrates its 73rd annual Danish Days from Friday, September 16
through Sunday, September 18, 2011. The event is sponsored by the Danish
Days Foundation honoring the establishment of Solvang by Danish-Americans in
1911; and to continue preserving the village's authentic Danish heritage.
The theme for this year's celebration is "Vikings in Vineland."
Danish and US flags line the streets, people don colorful costumes, and
there is folk dancing and entertainment throughout town—such as the Ravens
of Odin, a professional Viking re-enactment group that create an authentic
encampment; large-scale wood-carving demonstrations; and Randel McGee's Hans
Christian Andersen story-telling sessions. Authentic restaurants and
bakeries feature tasty cuisine, including aebleskiver (Danish pastry ball)
and medisterp�lse (Danish sausage). Over a dozen wine tasting rooms offer
award-winning vintages from the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley. Area
residents as well as thousands of visitors enjoy the festivities annually.
Here is the 2011 Schedule of Events—all are open to public, most are
free.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Area 1 - Copenhagen Dr (in front of RaboBank) 2 -
Parking lot stage 3 - Solvang Park 4 -
Copenhagen Square 5 - Wood Carver - 1st & Copenhagen
6 - Elverhoj museum 7 - Hans Christian
Andersen Museum 8 - Danish Brotherhood/Sisterhood
9 - Atterdag Square 10 Bethania Lutheran
Church
|
4:00 PM |
Chainsaw Carvers George
Kenny & Charlie Hubbard will begin carving their wooden
creation. View their work throughout the weekend.
|
Area 5
|
| 4:30 -
7 PM |
Concert in the Park by
Sonny Semler |
Area 3 |
| 6:30
PM |
Be part of the Torchlight
Parade! Courtesy Shuttle pick up area for transportation
o the start of the Torchlight Parade route. Everyone is
invited to join our procession! |
Area 3 |
| 7:30
PM |
TORCHLIGHT PARADE starts
at Alisal Rd. and Laurel Ave., down Alisal Road,
crossing Mission Dr. along Copenhagen Dr. to the Street
Dance |
Area 2 |
8:00 PM
|
DANISH DAYS OPENING CEREMONY
- Introduction of the 2010 Danish Days Maid Heidi
Anderson, “The Great Danes” lead us in the National
Anthems of the U.S.A. and Denmark, followed by…
- Short story by Randel McGee as Hans Christian
Andersen
- VELKOMMEN STREET DANCE to follow. Join
the Solvang Village Folk Dancers and Fresno Danish
Dancers in the street with music by “The Great
Danes”
|
Area
2 |
|
Saturday, September 17th
Area 1 - Copenhagen Dr (in front of RaboBank)
2 - Parking lot stage
3 - Solvang Park
4 - Copenhagen Square
5 - Wood Carver - 1st & Copenhagen
6 - Elverhoj museum
7 - Hans Christian Andersen Museum
8 - Danish Brotherhood/Sisterhood
9 - Atterdag Square
10 Bethania Lutheran Church
|
8:00 am |
For information go to the booth next to
Rabo Bank hosted by “Viking” Jack Pellerin – magazines, schedules,
tickets, buttons and lost items.
|
Area 1 |
8:00 am to 12:30 pm
|
Traditional Solvang Danish Days Breakfast
Serving Æbleskiver (Æbleskiver are those famous, round Danish
pancakes) $6.00; with Medisterpølse (Danish Sausage) $7.00 |
Area 1 |
| 8:00 am to 12:30 pm |
Papa Heinz “Accordion-One-Man-Band”
provides music for your enjoyment. |
Area 1 |
8:30 am
|
Solvang Village Folk Dancers – enjoy our
local dancers all weekend throughout the Village. |
Area 1 |
| 9:00 am |
Chainsaw Carvers - George Kenny & Charlie
Hubbard will continue carving their wood creation. Watch their
progress throughout the day. |
Area 5 |
| 9:00 am |
The Fossemalle Dancers – enjoy this local
youth dance group |
Area 2 |
| 10:00 am to 5:00 pm |
Limited Edition Collectible Souvenir Pins
on sale in the park, until we run out |
Area 3 |
| 10:00 am to 4:00 pm |
Visit the “Kid’s Korner” in Solvang Park –
Snacks, beverages, games & fun all provided by local non-profit
organizations. Visit the Lego “Play and Rest Area” supervised by
Petti Pfau and Solvang School educators.
|
Area 3 |
| 10:00 am to 4:00 pm |
Visit the Ravens of Odin (a Norse
Educational group) Viking Encampment |
Area 3 |
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
|
Elverhøj Museum – View demonstrations of
Old World Danish Folk Art. Docents in costumes and volunteers
demonstrate the art of Bobbin Lace making, Scandinavian Holiday
Crafts. |
Area 6 |
| 10:00 am to 5:00 pm |
Old World Artisan Marketplace |
|
| 10:15 am |
“Fresno Danish Dancers” accompanied by
“The Great Danes” |
Area 2 |
10:45 am
|
Relax under the trees, in the park, and
enjoy the antics of “Grinn and Barrett- Comedy Matters” |
Area 3
|
| 11:00 am |
Enjoy Storytelling by Randel McGee as Hans
Christian Andersen
|
Bookloft |
| 11:30 am |
Enjoy “easy listening” music by David
Yarnell
|
Area 4
|
| 11:30 am |
Join the fun, enter our “Æbleskive Eating
Contest” – Everyone is welcome! |
Area 1
|
| 11:30 am |
Krauka Band from Denmark - Music for New
Vikings |
Area 2 |
| 12:30 pm |
In the Ravens of Odin encampment, a cutting
demo will feature examples of Viking age, weapons, sword and axe,
and their effectiveness against targets such as tatami mats, pork
ribs and armor. It will give spectators an educational insight to
their effectiveness, and the destructive force of the actual weapons
used during the Viking era. |
Area 3
|
12:45 pm
|
Valley Youth Band under the direction of
Kay Dominguez |
Area 2 |
1:00 pm
|
Organ concert by Emma Lou Diemer, at
Bethania Lutheran Church
|
Area 10
|
1:30 pm
|
Enjoy Storytelling by Randel McGee as “Hans
Christian Andersen” Elverhoj Museum |
Elverhoj
Museum
|
2:30 pm
|
Danish Days Parade – Theme “That’s Sooooo
Danish” |
|
| 3:30 pm |
Music by “Lord Jeff Nation” Featuring Mason
Van Valin |
Area 4
|
3:30pm
|
The Krauka Band on the parking lot stage. |
Area 3
|
4:00 pm
|
Relax under the trees, in the park, and
enjoy the comedic talents of “Grinn & Barrett – Comedy Matters” |
Area 3 |
5:00 to 6:00 pm
|
Delight in traditional Scandinavian folk
music by the popular group “The Great Danes” |
Area 3 |
| 6:00 pm |
Danish Days Dinner Dance – Sponsored by the
Rebild National Park Society. Enjoy dinner prepared by Danish Chef
Mogens Mortensen, music and dancing to follow. No host wine & Beer
bar – Memorial Hall Reservations are required: 805-688-1535 |
Area 3 |
7:30 pm
|
Movies in the park |
|
Solvang, California