87th annual Danish Days kicks off Friday in Solvang

The 87th annual Danish Days weekend kicks off Friday in downtown Solvang, featuring a two-day LEGO-building competition, aebleskiver breakfast and eating contest, parades, live performances, and family-fun activities. Solvang Park comes alive Friday at 4 p.m.

, starting with a downtown concert, axe-throwing fun, an evening torchlight parade and opening ceremonies. The Viking beer and wine garden will be open. On Saturday, Solvang's famous aebleskiver (round Danish pancake) will again take center stage for the annual Æbleskiver Breakfast from 8:30 a.



m. to 12:30 p.m.

along Copenhagen Drive and First Street. After a breakfast, attendees can engage in activities such as observing pros in action during the Danish Days LEGO-building competition at Solvang Park. The competition will feature three California-based stars in the brick-building world, who will construct their own interpretation of a supersized model of one of Solvang’s iconic windmills.

The competitors are: Chris Wight, 1st place winner in the 2022 Solvang Danish Days LEGO competition; Jesse Gros, tied for 1st place in the 2023 Solvang Danish Days competition; and Suzanne Hansen, tied for 1st place in the 2023 Solvang Danish Days LEGO competition. The competition commences Saturday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.

m., when the builders begin their projects at Solvang Park. Brick-building will stop for the day at 4 p.

m., and resume Sunday from 10 a.m.

through 1 p.m. The public is welcome to watch free of charge as the pros craft their building block windmill scenes.

2024 Solvang Danish Days Maid Kaeley Reid tries her hand in 2013 at making the perfect aebleskiver under the supervision of her late grandfather Hans “Farfar” Birkholm and her father Peter Reid. Also on Saturday, the Danish Days parade is set to roll down Copenhagen Drive at 2:30 p.m.

, featuring a lineup including the Carlsberg Beer Wagon, floats, equestrians, village dancers and more. On Sunday, judging of the three intricate LEGO builds starts at 1:30 p.m.

, followed by a 3 p.m. winner announcement for the best build, which will also occur during the Solvang Danish Days closing ceremony in Solvang Park.

According to the rules, the LEGO-build winner will be awarded a cash prize. Another main attraction returning to this year’s Danish Days weekend, is competitive eater and YouTube sensation Raina Huang , who will compete in the annual aebleskiver-eating contests. Huang’s first appearance at the Solvang Danish Days Aebleskiver Eating Contest was in September 2018, when she broke Solvang Danish Days records by consuming 36 of the doughy pastry balls during the 5-minute competition.

Her hands-free effort beat out the record set in 2016 of 18.5 aebleskiver, according to records. Kaeley Reid will carry the torch of tradition for her family — and town — as the presiding maid in this year's 87th annual Solvang Danish Days festival in September.

Joining Huang this year is eating challenger Naader Red a . The all-you-can-eat 5-minute contests will be held at 11:30 a.m.

each day in the Midgaard Pavilion in Parking Lot 2, in downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden (Copenhagen Drive, between First and Second streets.) Attendees must be 21 years or older to enter the Viking Beer & Wine Garden. Contestants of all ages are invited to compete alongside Huang and Reda in both Saturday and Sunday contests.

According to the rules, prizes will be awarded to non-professional eaters in two separate age groups, for both days. The three-day event has been held each year since 1936 to celebrate the city's 1911 Danish roots. To purchase event tickets and view the 2024 Solvang Danish Days weekend schedule, visit www.

solvangdanishdays.org/event-schedule Spectators watch the Danish Days parade on Mission Drive in Solvang in 2023. Parade entrants are being sought to participate in the main event during the 87th annual Solvang Danish Days festival held in downtown Solvang Sept.

20-22. LEGO builders work during Danish Days in Solvang in 2023. The 87th annual Solvang Danish Days festival will arrive in downtown Solvang September 20-22, featuring authentic food, music, dancing, parades, live entertainment, and family activities.

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