13 Reasons to Go to Solvang's Ultra-Christmasy Julefest

If you notice that the conurbation and hustle of LA just does n’t quite charm the nostalgic holiday magic you ’re appear for , look at taking a route trip into the Santa Barbara countryside this time of year . Just a short two - hr drive up the 101 , you ’ll incur Solvang – a picturesque Danish Ithiel Town torn from the pages of a storybook – where theyreallyknow how to do Christmas . Every December , the Ithiel Town fete Julefest – a month of Noel merriment for whichTimeMagazinenamed Solvang one of The 10 Most “ Christmassy ” Towns in the US .

All the Christmas decorations , carolers , and parades you could treat ; a two - day wine and beer walk ; and the magnanimous effectual bonfire in the US made from burn Christmas trees make Julefest a singularly unequaled experience . Forget theNutcracker , this is some full - immersion holiday sport . Here ’s why you should set aside the first two weekend in December to let Solvang jingle your bell – and if you ca n’t make it in the next couple weeks , there are slew of things to do in Solvang year - rhythm as well :

1. Sing and wine your way through the community tree lighting ceremony

December 2The whole townspeople comes out to plain off Julefest , the most fantastic time of the year in Solvang . Bands , ballerina , choirs , and caroller provide live entertainment for this annual free issue , which , this year , will also reveal a new 22ft - tall drought - tolerant LED tree diagram . This is the first of many excuses to drink spicy speculate wine and sing loudly in public . descend back the next dawn for the Julefest parade at 11 am on December 3rd .

2. Shop the Christmas markets

Dec 2 - 4 and 9 - 11Shops extend their hours , offering free snacks and sip to lure tourist in for wine - fuel impulse buys . salute in public while crossing names off your Christmas list with gifts like handmade feel toys , genuine Danish dresses ( great for Euro milkmaid role play , er , whatever you want it for ) , and mountain of Euro - chachka .

3. A two-day holiday wine and beer walk

Dec 11 - 12Sixteen wine and beer taste rooms throughout the village offer samplings of their good over two day of holiday cheer . It ’s $ 45 per person for the two - sidereal day recommendation , which includes a relic wine glass ; some wineries make particular mulled wine or open a reserve batch peculiarly for the festival .

4. It’s not Christmas without a trolley

search the ins and out of Solvang on a trolley tour of the quaint small town . adjudicate on the greatest vacation laurel wreath and catch a glimpse of Santa all the while feeling like a guest on Mr. Rogers ' neighborhood ( if Mr. Rogers lived in Denmark and salute wine-coloured ) .

5. The Danish are the best at making danishes

No offence to the edible works of prowess from Thomas Keller , but there ’s just nothing like a simple , authentic European pastry , and Solvang provide just that – adorable bakeries dot every block here . Olsen’sandMortensen’sdeserve honorable acknowledgment but the emollient cheese Danish atDanish Mill Bakeryis the best in town : The wampum gets straightforwardly equilibrate by tart ointment cheese and the pantry , celestial pastry simoleons . Order two and send a selfie to your gluten - free , sugar - free , dairy farm - devoid , pleasure - devoid friends back in LA .

6. Eat your weight in aebelskivers

Pancake . orchis . ‘ Nuff said . Get the traditional Danish treat atSolvang Restaurant .

7. Learn more about Solvang’s unique history… and motorcycles

Solvang was found in 1911 by a group of Danes who jaunt West to parry the Midwestern common cold and build a Danish colony in the year - round sun . Solvang , which understand to “ sunny field ” in Danish , is populated by posterity of the colonials who have carry on the formula , traditions , and cultures of their ancestors . you could find out more about the town ’s history at theElverhøj Museum , realize you have sex nothing atThe Wildling Museum of Art and Nature , and rev up your engine at theSolvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum .

8. Take a book break at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum

Okay , perchance you ’re not the No . 1Thumbelinafan , but block off into Solvang’sHans Christian Andersen Museumafter a battle of Marathon of day tope and you ’ll in all likelihood enjoy re - read the stories as much as you did when you were a kid . Keep your eye out around township for Anderson statue like a fizzle of the Danish fabulist and replica of Copenhagen ’s famedLittle Mermaidstatue .

9. Find plenty of time to wine

Like Tuesday night book clubs and Gallic nomenclature meetup grouping , drink ample amounts of wine-coloured is one of the true motivation behind a tripper to Solvang . Local wine maker give NorCal wine country a run for its money and , all - recite , it ’s a far lovelier Ithiel Town than the ramble strip mall known as Downtown Napa . The region is in particular love for gorgeous strawberry - tinted rosés and the elephantine bouquets on the local viogniers . Solvang vintner claim it ’s the safe region for viognier in the world . degustation run day by day all over town , so keep your oculus sorta - open for a fix whenever you require .

10. Daydrink atSunstone Vineyards and Winery

Located steps outside Solvang in Santa Ynez , the soapstone bricks that make up the splendid Sunstone chateau get from a French soap manufacturing plant once have by Marie Antoinette , and once on the grounds at Sunstone you ’ll have to cue yourself that you ’re not actually in the South of France . Allow a good three hours for a visit here , and ask for Tom , who will tell you tall narrative while allow evenly impressive pours of the lush Sunstone chard .

11. Drink, eat, repeat

Solvang has a slew of stellar eating place , includingFirst & Oak , whose Chef Snook has fudge in a chain of Michelin Star eating house , including six year working under Gordon Ramsay ( set up the light costa bourguignon for a taste perception of traditional excellence).Root 246has a nicely crusted holibut and nothing edit out the wine like the charcuterie denture from Succulent with curried nuts and homemade mess .

12. Explore the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley

When you ’ve Julefest - ed your agency through all of Solvang , take have a day trip-up to the neighboring towns of Los Olivos and Santa Ynez . They have boutique shop , eatery , and European olive tree oil tasting . Book an uber to get around : There ’s plenty worth drinking there .

13. Christmas tree burn

January 6 , 2017This is it , folks : The grand finale . The big show . The capstone of Julefest and totally deserving a yield visit . At the one-year Christmas Tree Burn , locals bring their retired Christmas tree to the bound of townspeople , usually about 500 of them , where they are gathered and burned in a bonfire of pants - crap proportions . It ’s the nation ’s large ardour safety display , oversee by the Solvang flack section . Like Burning Man , only , like , Christmasier . And with more hard liquor .

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Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau