OCTOBER 1 – OCTOBER 14, 2024
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Danish Days was awash with Danish flags and Viking helmets Weekend highlights include aebleskiver eating, Lego building, juggling, dancing, and just overall fun
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By Pamela Dozois and Mike Chaldu
he 87th annual Solvang Danish Days, a three-day cultural event, was held Sept. 20-22 in celebration of the establishment of Solvang by Danish Americans in 1911. The multiple weekend events were well attended and filled with fun, food, Æbleskiver Eating and Lego Building Contests, axe-throwing, street vendors, multiple festivities, parades, the Danish Maid, live entertainment, street dancing, and family activities, offering attendees a total Danish experience. The theme of this year’s event was “Det Dansk, Det Dejligt” — “It’s Danish, it’s delightful!” One of the highlights of the event was the Danish Days Parade. Approximately 30 floats, festooned in Danish flags, with participants wearing colorful Danish garb, took part in the parade. The Color Guard was in the lead, ushering in the Danish Maid, Kaeley Reid, who was followed by the Nordhoff High School Rangers Marching Band. John Clark, riding in a vintage pink Thunderbird portrayed the celebrated author, Hans
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The Carlsberg Pilsner Wagon horses pulled the Solvang Village Band through town during the Danish Days Parade on Sept. 21. Photo by Devyn Marseilles
Christian Andersen, wearing his top hat. He was followed by a group of young dancers from Cruz Dance Production performing the Mexican Hat Dance. The Carlsberg Pilsner Beer Wagon passed by filled with members of the Solvang Village Band, while the Danish bakers float titled “Danish and Delightful” passed out Danish
cookies to the crowd. The parade continued with float entries by the Solvang Visitors Center, Bethania Lutheran Church, Viking Charities, the Vikings of Solvang Ship, Rio Vista, and Figueroa Mountain Brewery carrying a band playing rock and roll, along with the Figueroa Mountain Brewery’s colorful bus following behind.
Residents of the Atterdag Village of Solvang waved to the crowd while the Solvang Trolley played Judy Garland’s “The Trolley Song” from the 1944 film, “Meet Me in St. Louis.” A float featuring the Marguerite Daisy, Denmark’s national flower, came next with its members passing out small bouquets of daisies. Members of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
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