Situated just two and a half hours North of Los Angeles and 30 miles from Santa Barbara, is Solvang, California where every 3rd weekend in September, people crowd into this quaint town for Danish Days, (2008 festival to be held from September 19 through 21).
Solvang, founded in 1911, is an authentic Danish settlement where the heritage and customs of the Old World live on. Danish is still spoken by many residents, much of the architecture reflects a Danish influence, gas street lamps originally used in Copenhagen still light some areas of Solvang, there are a few country-style windmills around town and you can even find a replica of the Little Mermaid, Denmark’s national symbol. In 1936, during Solvang’s 25th anniversary celebration, the future King and Queen of Denmark visited the town. At Danish Days, people flock from all over the world to enjoy rich Danish traditions and celebrations from dancing to crafts to dining.