Solvang Julefest highlights a season of lights, parades, and other holiday traditions in the wine-country gem of California’s Central Coast
November 20th – (SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif.) — The holiday season has a way of bringing out the best in the Santa Ynez Valley. The quaintness of the Santa Ynez Valley’s six small and distinct communities, the warmth of the people, the uniqueness of its locally owned shops, and the beauty of the region’s rolling landscape, foster an enchanting holiday season that brings joy to all those who experience it.
Immortalized in films like A Very Charming Christmas Town, the holidays in the Santa Ynez Valley are filled with tree lighting ceremonies, parades, small-town holiday festivals, special winemaker dinners, and more. Perhaps the best-known celebration is Solvang Julefest (pronounced yule-fest), which has made the Santa Ynez Valley’s authentic Danish-American village a darling of so many lists of the “Most Magical Christmas Towns” in the world.
With events from Nov. 24 through Jan. 6, 2024, Julefest will once again include favorites such as the annual Solvang Tree Lighting Ceremony (Dec. 1), Julefest Parade (Dec. 2), Candlelight Tours, the “Nisse Adventure” scavenger hunt, Solvang Food Tours, and so much more.
As magical a tradition as Julefest is, though, it’s just the beginning of all there is to discover during the holiday season.
“The holiday season embodies the essence of what has made the Santa Ynez Valley such a unique destination, blending the warmth, hospitality, and traditions of this community with the world-class wine and culinary delights that draw visitors all year long,” said Shelby Sim, president and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley. “This is always a memorable time of year. The atmosphere is forever festive, uniting both our cherished locals and our valued visitors.”
The Santa Ynez Valley calendar is filled with fun all season long. Here are some of our favorite holiday traditions:
Holiday festivals: Solvang’s annual Julefest celebration is the region’s headlining holiday event, with parades, visits from Santa, Candlelight Tours, and more bringing weeks of holiday cheer. However, the six distinct communities of the Santa Ynez Valley each have their unique way of celebrating the season. Festivities kick off in Santa Ynez with the annual Santa Ynez Small Town Christmas and Christmas Tree Lighting (Friday, Dec. 1). Los Olivos celebrates the holidays with Los Olivos Olde Fashioned Christmas (Saturday, Dec. 2), where revelers start the day by taking in the quaintness of the town’s tasting rooms, boutiques, and galleries and end with the official lighting of the Los Olivos Christmas Tree. Buellton WinterFest (Sunday, Dec. 3) begins with breakfast with Santa and continues with vendors, live music, and 20 tons of snow trucked in and piled high for all to enjoy.
Holiday shopping, the Santa Ynez Valley way: Find something truly special for the one you love by shopping locally. The Santa Ynez Valley is home to more than 200 independent and family-owned boutiques, each offering unique treasures that will make a perfect gift. Avec Moi, C&E Fine Jewelry, First Street Leather, Forage Florals, Gallery Los Olivos, Global Gardens, J. Woeste, Liquid Farm, Los Olivos General Store, Olive and Lavender Farms, Plenty Boutique, and Santa Ynez General, are but a few of the local boutiques, artisans, galleries, farm stores, and more that will make your holiday shopping something to savor. Or visit the Julefest Maker’s Market (Dec. 6), which is inspired by traditional European night markets and features a row of crafters and local artisans offering one-of-a-kind holiday gift ideas, seasonal treats, and more, at an open-air Christmas market in Solvang Park.
Holiday lights: The Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden’s Holiday Lights Festival (Dec. 1-2, 8-10, and 15-17) will offer a stunningly beautiful display of holiday lights every weekend during the holiday season. And through the season, tour downtown Solvang or Los Olivos, which will both be decking the streets with a holiday light display all through town. Don’t forget to visit the Christmas tree in Santa Ynez, the tallest in the region. Even the iconic windmill in downtown Solvang will be lit with holiday lights all season long.
Uniquely Santa Ynez Valley: Stroll the authentic Danish bakeries of Solvang. Whether in the mood for a light and delicate kringle or traditional holiday treats such as gingerbread cookies, Solvang’s bakeries always make the holidays sweet and delicious. Speaking of gingerbread, a tour of the region’s gingerbread houses is a must. The annual display of gingerbread houses at St. Mark’s in the Valley is a can’t miss during Los Olivos Olde Fashioned Christmas, Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery in Solvang brings holiday cheer each season with its famed gingerbread house, and the Chumash Casino Resort’s massive gingerbread house defies belief. You can even do as the celebrities do and order your own custom gingerbread house from Solvang Bakery. After taking in the gingerbread, go on a wine walk in postcard-perfect Los Olivos, where most of its nearly three dozen tasting rooms are set in picturesque Victorian-style buildings lit up for the holidays. Both the kids and the kids at heart will love the Santa Ynez Valley Cowboy Christmas (Select days, Nov. 24-Dec. 23). This favorite rustic family holiday experience includes horseback rides, kids obstacle course, petting zoo, wooden ornament decorating, and more.
For more information, or to research events and attractions, book lodging and activities, and create a custom travel itinerary, visit visitsyv.com.
About the Santa Ynez Valley
Barely two hours from Los Angeles and a scenic four-hour drive from San Francisco, the Santa Ynez Valley is home to six distinct towns each with its own culture, vibe, and menu of experiences. Blanketed with fruitful farms and vineyards, the California Central Coast wine region’s temperate weather allows for year-round activities of all sorts, spread throughout the historical communities of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang. Destination dining and world-class wines await, accompanied by lodging at every level, all painted into atmospheric backdrops that colorfully mesh Old World and Old West. Visit more than 100 wineries, feast on chef-driven cuisine, and enjoy festive events and design details from Victorian-era to mid-century to modern Danish. For more information, including a listing of wedding venues, restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, and events, go to VisitSYV.com.
