Solvang Celebrates USA Independence Day

Solvang, named as one of the “Most Beautiful Main Streets Across America” by Architectural Digest, is proud to celebrate USA Independence Day 2019 with special events and activities with fun for the whole family on July 4th. Here is the schedule of public events.

Thursday, July 4, 2019

10:00 a.m.  — Free Concert by Santa Ynez Valley Wind Ensemble at Solvang Park (Mission Drive & First Street).

 
11:00 a.m. – Independence Day Parade presented by Solvang Rotary Club that strolls, rolls, canters, and steps starting at Old Mission Santa Ines (1760 Mission Drive) and heads west along Mission Drive (Route 246); turns south on Fourth Place, then east along Copenhagen Drive and back to Old Mission Santa Ines. This year’s parade theme is “We the People” and 2019 Parade Grand Marshals are Rutledge “Putty” Mills and his wife Carol of Santa Ynez. Born in 1923, Mills is a decorated World War II U.S. Army veteran, who saw action in Europe including the Battle of Bulge and was also deployed to the Philippines. His significant decorations include the French Legion of Honor; the American, European-African-Middle Eastern and Asiatic campaign medals, the World War II Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Post-war, Mills was a self-taught engineer at Santa Barbara Research Center who designed the prototype of the Lunar Rover for NASA astronauts to practice driving before heading to the moon (a restored rover will be in the parade).
 
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – BBQ sponsored by Solvang Rotary Club featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, linguiça and fixings; plus a Free Concert by the T-Bone Ramblers of classic rock tunes at Solvang Park (Mission Drive & First Street).
 
2:00-3:00 p.m. – Free Concert by Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale accompanied by area musicians under the direction of Dr. Michael Elgin featuring Americana, traditional & patriotic music in a “July 4th Jamboree!” at Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall (1765 Mission Drive). *Previous year pictured above.
 
2:00-9:30 p.m. –Annual Solvang Independence Day Festival & Fireworks Show sponsored by Rotary Club of the Santa Ynez Valley. Gates open at Old Mission Santa Inés (1760 Mission Drive) starting at 2:00 p.m. and event goes throughout the afternoon until 9:30 p.m. The Festival will feature food booths, wine & beer garden, kids’ activities including bounce castle, face-painting, plenty of time to kick-back and relax. Live entertainment will begin at 5:00 p.m. with local performers featuring Steve Ochoa Band, Jineanne Coderre Band and Bear Redell. Admission is $10.00 and FREE for children ages 7 and under, as well as FREE for active duty military and their immediate family members with ID. All proceeds benefit local non-profits. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Solvang Friendship House (880 Friendship Lane) or Hometown Insurance (186 W Hwy 246, Buellton) or at the gate.

9:00-9:30 p.m. – Solvang Independence Day Fireworks Show sponsored by Rotary Club of the Santa Ynez Valley held in the fields at Old Mission Santa Inés (1760 Mission Drive)—part of the annual festival started in 1995.
 
There is free parking in public lots and businesses throughout Solvang during this holiday AND year-round. The Solvang Visitors Center is open daily from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at 1639 Copenhagen Drive, offering free maps, visitor guides, savings coupons and plenty of information—it is operated by staff of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau (SCVB); a not-for-profit organization formed in 1986 to promote the City of Solvang, its Northern European culture, cuisine, arts and attractions of the village known as “California’s Denmark.”