Solvang in Santa Barbara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Solvang Theater Festival

Photographed by Adam Margolis, May 31, 2026

1. Solvang Theater Festival Marker

Inscription.
On August 7, 1974 "Once Upon a Mattress" became the first play performed by the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) in the new Solvang Festival Theater (Theaterfest). Built in a mere nine weeks, Theaterfest (Danish for theater) was the dream of a visionary group of business leaders, shop owners and civic-minded townspeople, eager to keep Solvang a relevant tourist destination during the nation's first major oil crisis. The initial idea for a Solvang theater had been proposed by local architect Earl Petersen to PCPA Artistic Director Donovan Marley and soon Petersen, Marley and Judge Royce Lewellen were looking for a site for the new theater. The Solvang Business Association enthusiastically supported the idea and appointed Roger Nielsen to chair the promotion and fundraising committee to encourage community support. Vince Evans organized a number of fund raising events and soon construction began, led by Erling Pohls and Johannes Jaeger. They, along with virtually every tradesman in town worked around the clock to complete the task in time for opening night. Ken Mills, treasurer of the sponsoring Santa

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Ynez Valley Arts Assn. handled the finances and assured the bills were paid on time. Designed to be the summer home of PCPA, Artistic Director Donovan Marley spent every day at the construction site. He often slept in his car so that he would be there to greet the work crews that arrived early each morning. Architect Petersen's plans were reviewed over coffee and Danish pastries at each mornings meeting. The construction crews worked seven days a week transforming a vacant lot into the center of theatrical cultural activity in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Governed by a series of volunteer Boards of Directors, the Solvang Festival Theater has showcased the talent and hard work of countless performers and hundreds of plays in the years since 1974. It has become the venue for many non-profit community organizations' fundraising events and concerts that have benefitted thousands in the community. Today it remains the summer home of PCPA. The visionary dream of a group of Solvang men and women was transformed in those nine weeks into the magnificent 700 seat outdoor theater that stands before you.

We salute the efforts of the Founders, tradespeople,

Photographed by Adam Margolis, May 31, 2026

2. Solvang Theater Festival Marker

volunteer Board members, volunteer Red Coat ushers and most importantly, the many donors and Patrons who have and continue to make this dream a success. And to our many creative and talented partners from PCPA we say "thank you" for allowing the community to experience "Hundreds of performances, thousands of performers and millions of memories."

Dedicated this 40th Anniversary Year, June 22, 2014.

Erected 2014.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is August 7, 1974.

Location. 34° 35.674′ N, 120° 8.471′ W. Marker is in Solvang, California, in Santa Barbara County. It is on 2nd Street south of Molle Way, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 420 2nd Street, Solvang CA 93463, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Central Coast,

specifically on the Coast Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the

Photographed by Adam Margolis, May 31, 2026

3. Solvang Theater Festival Marker

Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Solvang Founders (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Solvang, California (about 500 feet away); Solvang Park War Memorial (about 600 feet away); Bit O' Denmark (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mission Santa Inéz (approx. 0.3 miles away); Express Wagon (approx. 3.7 miles away); Coast Line Stage Company Mud Wagon (approx. 3.7 miles away); Los Olivos 1887 (approx. 5.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Solvang.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2026, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2026, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.