The iconic amusement park Tivoli Gardens in the heart of Copenhagen has announced it will not celebrate America’s Independence Day on July 4th this year. This marks a significant change from 2024 when Tivoli held a large-scale celebration accompanied by extensive marketing.
Scheduling conflicts cited as official reason
According to Tivoli’s Press Manager, Torben Plank, this year’s decision stems primarily from practical scheduling issues rather than political tensions. “This year, July 4th falls on a Friday, coinciding with several events at the park, including a major Fredagsrock concert. This makes it impossible for us to organize the usual 4th of July activities,” Plank explained in an email to TV 2 Kosmopol.
Context of rising US-Europe tensions
While Tivoli Gardens maintains that the decision is logistical, it cannot be entirely isolated from the broader context of growing tension between the US and Europe following Donald Trump‘s return to the presidency. Across Denmark and other European countries, many consumers have begun boycotting American products and brands in protest against the current US political stance.
Prominent Danish retailer Salling Group recently decided to feature European products prominently in its stores, distancing itself from American imports—a move highlighting the broader sentiment of economic nationalism sweeping across the continent. Though officially unrelated, Tivoli Gardens’ decision inevitably resonates with this broader context.
Broader impact on Danish-American cultural events
The cancellation at Tivoli Gardens aligns with discussions occurring elsewhere in Denmark regarding Danish-American cultural relations. For instance, the largest annual July 4th event in Denmark, held at Rebild Bakker near Aalborg, recently faced scrutiny from political parties such as Enhedslisten, which proposed discontinuing municipal financial support for the event.
Thus, while Tivoli Gardens emphasizes scheduling conflicts, the decision underscores the complexities of cultural and commercial choices amidst shifting societal attitudes and political contexts in Europe.
