
What to Know
- Sept. 17 and 18, 2021
- Visitors are invited to "live like Vikings" during the weekend events
- Both parades, and other events, are free to attend; some happenings, like tours, are ticketed
"A TOTAL DANISH IMMERSION EXPERIENCE": The Golden State absolutely flowers with fanciful and quaint villages, those pretty places that look as if they were created for the front of the brochure or a postcard. But they're real, with actual residents, and histories that offer tales of how hearty members of a community weathered the decades and came to create a place that both locals and visitors love. Solvang is one of those special spots, and has been for well over a century. Founded by a group of Danish-Americans in 1911, the Santa Barbara County town has become a noted nexus of windmills, colorful clogs, and spirited celebrations, the sorts of parties that pay tribute to long-standing, well-loved traditions. Those celebrations, specifically the weekend-long Danish Days, came to a halt during the pandemic, but in-person gatherings will soon resume. Specifically?
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SEPT. 17 AND 18, 2021, when Danish Days returns to the streets, beer gardens, museums, and parks of the charming burg. As with bygone bashes, two free-to-see parades will roll through the picturesque heart of the town, while other happenings, like food tours, history-themed happenings at the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art, and a Viking encampment will add further character to the weekend. And, of course, the vittles will have a starring role, including the oh-so-obsessed-over æbleskiver, the jammy, ball-shaped pastry that you often eat by threes (or sixes, or, yes, even nines). The Æbleskiver Breakfast is one of the centerpieces of the weekend, and a "Dane for a Day" VIP ticket bundle will help you gain entry to the sweet-tooth'd feasting.
MORE WILL BE REVEALED... about the schedule, what visitors can look forward to, tickets, and tasty treats in the weeks ahead. But if you've been missing this Solvang must-do, miss it no longer: It dances back over the final weekend of summer 2021.
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