Solvang Fourth of July Celebration

Solvang is ready to celebrate USA Independence Day 2017 with special events and activities for the whole family. Here is the schedule of public events. 

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

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 rolls, canters, steps and strolls 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 “American Heroes.”  2017 Parade Grand Marshal is a Solvang hero, Jim Kunkle, Sr., a highly decorated World War II US pilot who is a life member of the Legion of Honor; and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy near Aachen, Germany, on September 16, 1944. Kunkle also received the Air Medal of Honor as well as a Purple Heart for his distinguished military career.

Noon- 2:00 p.m. – BBQ featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, linguiça and all the fixings for $5-7 combos with chips and soda or water; and Free Concert by the T-Bone Ramblers at Solvang Park (Mission Drive & First Street); all sponsored by Solvang Rotary Club.  

2:00-3:00 p.m. – Free Concert by Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale and local musicians under the direction of Dr. Michael Elgin in Old Mission Santa Inés chapel (1760 Mission Drive) featuring Americana, traditional & patriotic music. 

2:00-9:30 p.m. – 23^rd Annual Solvang Independence Day Festival & Fireworks Show sponsored by Rotary Club of the Santa Ynez Valley. Gates open at Old Mission Santa Inés starting at 2:00 p.m. throughout the afternoon and evening. The Festival will feature food booths, wine & beer garden, kids’ activities including bounce castle, face-painting and plenty of time to kick-back and relax. Live entertainment will begin at 5:00 p.m. with local performers Breaking Silence, Bear Redell and The Molly Ringwald Project. Admission is $10.00 per adult; and FREE for children ages 7 and under, as well as FREE for active duty military and their dependents with ID. All proceeds benefit local charities. 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 at Old Mission Santa Inés (1760 Mission Drive). 

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 1630 Copenhagen Drive, offering free maps, visitor guides, savings coupons and plenty of information; 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.”