Copenhagen Drive in Solvang was filled with Fossemalle dancers and a line of people waiting to buy aebleskivers on Saturday at the 85th Danish Days Festival, which hasn’t been held since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve been cooking all morning,” said 2021 Danish Maid Kayla Bandel, who has been attending Danish Days since she was 5 years old. “It’s just a time to celebrate our Danish heritage.
“A lot of people emigrated to Solvang from Denmark — my great-grandmother did and a bunch of others. I think both the [other] maids and their great-great-grandparents did as well. So I think it’s a place where we can celebrate our traditions as Danish people and share them with everybody.”
View a photo gallery from the drill by clicking the arrow on the right side of the picture above.
At the Midgaard pavilion stage, the aebleskiver-eating competition took place. Contestants filled the stage to see who could eat the most pancake balls in five minutes.
Kristen and Johnathan Roylance said the competition is their favorite event. Jonathan Roylance has entered the competition in the past, but this year was Kristen Roylance’s first time ever competing.
He entered in the first round of the competition and ate five, and she entered in the second round of the competition and finished eight.
“I’m used to eating fast because I have four kids,” Kristen Roylance said.
The Kids Korner of the festival featured a Lego-building competition, archery and a rock-climbing wall.
The Danish Days Parade was led by 2020 Danish Maid Isabella Lopez, followed by 2021’s Bandel and 2022 Danish Maid Aleena Madrid.
Parade floats and participants followed First Street to Copenhagen Drive, up Alisal Road and down Mission Drive, tossing out candy to spectators and shooting water guns into the crowd.
Lompoc resident Lily Solodovnikov said she attended the festival for the first time this year.
“I like how it’s culturally diverse,” Solodovnikov said. “A lot of people come to one spot to celebrate Danish culture. Epecially in Southern California, we have a lot of different cultures and ethnicities, so it’s good to see everyone come together to celebrate one that’s not talked about as much. Solvang is unique. I don’t think anywhere else in California has a Danish town like this.”
“I just hope that everyone makes it their new family tradition,” Bandel said. “If it’s not already, it should be.”
The festival continues through Sunday.
— Noozhawk staff writer Grace Kitayama can be reached at gkitayama@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
