Solvang Danish Days Celebration Set for September 19-21, 2008

Solvang, California, the “Danish Capital of America,” celebrates its 72nd annual Danish Days from Friday, September 19 through Sunday, September 21, 2008.

The event is sponsored by the Danish Days Foundation honoring the establishment of Solvang by Danish-American educators in 1911; and to continue preserving the village’s authentic Danish heritage. The theme for this year's celebration is "Solvang: When Change Meets Tradition.”

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 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.

For more information, call (805) 686-9386 and the Solvang Visitors Center at (805) 688-6144.