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In the event you’re desirous to mark the vacations this 12 months with a Danish aptitude however Copenhagen appears a tad too distant, you would possibly discover the reply in Solvang. A solution that features gnomes and a troll.
That metropolis, based in 1911 by Danish immigrants, celebrates its Julefest — the winter holidays — with an emphasis on visitor-friendly Outdated World traditions. This 12 months’s schedule features a sequence of occasions and actions from Nov. 28 by way of Jan. 4 — roaming carolers, European-style night time markets, candlelight excursions and retailers reworked into micro winter wonderlands.
In the event you’re planning a winter highway journey, listed below are some issues to know.
Essentially the most quaint resorts on the town are tiny, so e book early
Solvang, about 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles, has about 20 resorts and most are smallish and impartial. The biggest is the Corque Resort (122 rooms), which is affiliated with Marriott however owned by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
Essentially the most intimate and inexpensive resorts — usually in a classic motel type of manner — embrace the Atterdag Inn (8 rooms), New Haven Inn (10 rooms), Hamlet Inn (13 rooms), Mirabelle Inn (13 rooms), the Viking Inn (13 rooms) and the Winston (14 rooms).
Essentially the most luxurious is the Alisal Visitor Ranch & Resort, whose 73 rooms and cottages routinely lease for $1,500 nightly or extra (the property features a lake and two golf programs).
A tree will rise, amid carols, craft markets and extra
Solvang’s vacation celebrations embrace a tree lighting, like this one in 2023.
(SolvangUSA)
Tree lighting will occur at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in Solvang Park, adopted by a Julefest Parade the following morning at 11 a.m.
Caroling is scheduled on a number of Saturdays, Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13 and 20, from 5 to eight p.m. in Solvang Park (climate allowing). Artwork and craft markets will materialize on Wednesdays, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, from 3 to 7 p.m.
There can be European-style markets to peruse.
(SolvangUSA)
Solvang Park will provide hourlong mild and music exhibits nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 28 by way of Jan. 4. There are additionally night trolley rides by way of the San Ynez Valley and meet-and-greet alternatives with Santa (in Solvang Park) are set for midday to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 29 and 30, then Dec. 6, 7, 13,14, 20 and 21.
On Dec. 31, consideration shifts to Julefest’s Copenhagen Countdown in Solvang Park, ringing within the Danish new 12 months at 3 p.m., Pacific Normal Time. This occasion, from 2 to 4 p.m., will characteristic reside music from an ’80s tribute band often known as the Molly Ringwald Undertaking.
Gnomes and a troll are anticipated
The seasonal choices additionally embrace candlelight excursions (that includes LED candles and hosts in costume), Christmas mild excursions and each day looking for nisser (gnomes) all through downtown Solvang.
The troll — nicknamed Lulu Hyggelig — isn’t actually a seasonal addition. It (or she, when you favor) is a everlasting resident of the town’s California Nature Artwork Museum, added in February. Lulu, manufactured from recycled pallets and wine barrels, is one in every of many trolls created worldwide by Danish artist and recycling activist Thomas Dambo and his crew of veteran builders and volunteers.
Christmas bushes will burn — and that’s a part of the celebration 
Solvang’s vacation Julefest season usually ends with a Christmas tree burn. This one occurred in 2023.
(Randy De La Pena/SolvangUSA)
The season ends with a Christmas tree burn, billed as a security demonstration, supervised by the Santa Barbara County Fireplace Division and scheduled for five p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, climate allowing.
