Solvang, California

Visit the Official Web Site of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau for more information about Solvang!

www.SolvangUSA.com

Solvang CVB

Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau
Box 70
Solvang, CA 93464

●Visitor Center:
1639 Copenhagen Drive
Solvang, CA 93463

TEL: 805-688-6144 FAX: 805-688-8620 TOLL-FREE:
1-800-468-6765

Administrative Office:
1511-A Mission Drive
Solvang, CA 93463

Logo Contest Judges

Esther Bates
- Elverhoj Museum of History & Art
Curt Cragg
- SYV Historical Museum
Atto Alexander
 – Signs by Atto
Rick Rantz
– Allan Hancock College
John Martino
– Chumash Casino Spa and Resort

Sponsored by:

City of Solvang logoSolvang CVB logo

Solvang Receives Preserve America Community Award

PreserveAmerica-Solvang

Solvang has been named a "Preserve America Community," by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C.

First Lady Michelle Obama sent the letter of designation to Solvang Mayor Jim Richardson and the citizens of Solvang acknowledging the honor.

For more information about Preserve America, visit preserveamerica.gov.

Read Solvang’s official description at PreserveAmerica-Solvang

 

HRH Prince Consort of Denmark Visits Solvang

June 11, 2011

Solvang, California, USA — A crowd of about 600 turned out at Solvang Park for a formal welcome and a celebration of Prince Consort Henrik’s 77th birthday, and a part of Solvang's Centennial celebration.

The “royal birthday party” featured remarks by the prince; recognition of Solvang’s centennial; serving of a birthday cake, cookies and kringles; and singing as well as music by the Valley Wind Ensemble.

The United States and Denmark have “a relationship based on respect and common values and ideals” but it’s also forged by individual people “who have made a new home without forgetting the old nation of their ancestors,” Prince Consort Henrik said.

HRH The Prince Consort made his first public appearance at the “Royal Birthday Party” in Solvang Park (Mission Dr. and First St., downtown Solvang), from 5:15 to 6:15 PM. The ceremony formally welcomed HRH to the City of Solvang and paid tribute to his birthday on June 11, as well commemorating Solvang’s 100th birthday. Festive music for the occasion was provided by the Valley Wind Ensemble.

Accompanying HRH The Prince Consort were Peter Taksoe-Jensen, Denmark’s Ambassador to the United States; Christian Eugen-Olsen, Master of Ceremonies at the Danish Royal Palace; and Torsten Jansen, Minister Counselor Culture and Public Diplomacy at the Royal Danish Embassy in Washington, DC.

In the evening, the “Royal Dinner Celebration” honored the distinguished Danish visitors at Rusack Vineyards, 1819 Ballard Canyon Road. (Rusack is located within the boundaries of the nearly 9,000 acres of land originally bought by the founders of Solvang in 1911.) The celebration starts with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. HRH The Prince Consort greeted each guest in a formal receiving line, followed by a sumptuous gourmet feast, created by New West Catering. Guests were served under gorgeous skiess inside a canopy amid the oak trees and grape vines.

The visit culminated years of dedicated efforts between the Royal Danish Embassy and Esther Bates. Local arrangements were coordinated by the all-volunteer Solvang Centennial Committee, the City of Solvang, the Elverhøj Museum and the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau. Ed Skytt, chairman of the Centennial Committee, called the Royal visit, “An honor to the City of Solvang and to all Danes and Danish-Americans, many of whom have contributed greatly to the United States and to international goodwill.”

Past royal visits have been marked by community celebration and enthusiasm. In 1939, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid (later King Frederik IX of Denmark and Queen Ingrid, 1947-1972) came to Solvang. They attended a Good Friday service at Bethania Church, visited Atterdag College, and were honored at a reception at the Veterans Memorial Building. Young Princess Margrethe visited Solvang in 1960. She attended a reception at Palacio del Rio, had lunch at Bethania Church, and later toured downtown Solvang. In 1976, she returned as Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, accompanied by her husband HRH Prince Consort Henrik.

HRH the Prince Consort was born Henri Marie Jean André Count de Laborde de Monpezat on June 11, 1934 in Talence, Gironde, France. On June 10, 1967, he married the Heir Apparent to the Danish throne, Princess Margrethe. The couple has two children: HRH Crown Prince Frederik André Henrik Christian, born May 26, 1968, and HRH Prince Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian, born June 7, 1969. There are numerous grandchildren. The Prince Consort studied law and political science at the Sorbonne, Paris, and Chinese and Vietnamese at École Nationale des Langues Orientales, with further language study in Hong Kong and Saigon. He has had a background in the French diplomatic service and holds the honorary rank of General and Admiral in the Danish Defense. He is interested in viticulture and operates the wine estate Château de Caïx, in Cahors, France.

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and His Royal Highness the Prince Consort will visit Washington, DC and New York City from June 6 through June 10. Prince Henrik will then continue on his own to Solvang, and then visit Stanford University and the Danish Innovation Center in Palo Alto, California before returning to Denmark.

Solvang Centennial Plaza Rejsegilde
Danish Topping-Out Ceremony

March 31, 2011

Under clear blue sunny skies, the final rafter of Solvang’s new Centennial Plaza structure was lifted into place and topped with a traditional Danish wreath made of evergreens, flowers and ribbons in celebration. The Rejsegilde (pronounced raysuh meaning “raise” and gilde pronounced gild-a meaning party) attracted more than 50 local residents, visitors and city
officials.

Reisegilde-solvang-topping-off

Solvang City Manager thanked the Mayor and City Council, the volunteer Centennial Committee members and acknowledged current City Public Works Director Matt van der Linden and previous Public Works Director Tully Clifford for their project management and introduced architect David Goldstein and the contractors of Mendez Concrete. Esther Jacobsen Bates of the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art described the traditional Danish significance of the Rejsegilde including thanks to the builders and good luck in completing the project. Tracy Farhad of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau encouraged the public to support Centennial Committee fund-raising efforts by contributing tax-deductible donations for the Plaza such as benches, decorative carvings and bike racks/posts. Centennial Committee Chair Ed Skytt acknowledged everyone for their support and officially asked the builders to raise the rafter and wreath. A sparkling cider toast and group singing of a Danish toasting song Skal (pronounced skol) was followed by complimentary refreshments—cheese, fruit, kringle and Danish butter cookies frosted with the Centennial logo.

Solvang Centennial Fest

January 7, 2011

More than 200 people attended the Centennial fund-raiser inaugural kick-off event-- ―Centennial Fest – Friday, January 7, 2011, at the Hotel Corque, 400 Alisal Road, in Solvang. The public joined with civic leaders for a complimentary wine reception offered by Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, Rideau Vineyard and Wandering Dog Wine Bar. The Solvang Village Folk Dancers and the Chumash Samala Dancers provided entertainment. Guests joined an escorted walk to nearby Old Mission Santa Ines to experience the annual tree-burning ceremony hosted by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

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