by Noella Noelophile®
Royalty-free image by StockSnap from Pixabay
What does “olde-fashioned Christmas” mean to you?
To the historic Santa Ynez Valley wine destination town of Los Olivos, it means carols, lights, open-air shopping and family-friendly fun. It also means a look back at the way Christmas might have been celebrated in 1887–the year the town was founded.
And this Saturday, December 7th, you’re invited to come and experience all of the above, for yourself.
In their annual “Olde Fashioned Christmas” event, the whole town gets involved, according to their press release.
Royalty-free Image by 昕 沈 from Pixabay
Their Victorian-era celebration starts at noon, with their Artisan Holiday Market, featuring nearly two dozen vendors offering their handcrafted creations. Christmas carolers will stroll Los Olivos’ main street, as businesses offer open houses all through town. And those businesses, more often than not, are housed in meticulously-maintained buildings that are at least 100 years old–and lit up for Christmas.
New to this year’s “Olde Fashioned Christmas” are a Snow Zone, at Los Olivos tasting rooms for Liquid Farm and Stolpman Vineyards, as well as a petting zoo at the Lavinia Campbell Park, the town’s main park.
(Royalty-free image by Bernhard Hayo, from Pixabay.)
Live music will be offered, courtesy of hometown singer-songwriter Bear Redell, who will soon be calling Nashville home. Foodies will face a challenge, with food trucks gathered near Community Craft, on Alamo Pintado, roasted walnuts near Evan’s Ranch Wines and popcorn at Jedlicka’s Saddlery, on Grand Avenue.
And what would Christmas be without a train? Starting at 1:00 pm, the Summerset Farm & Dale’s “Train” will chug kids, and the big kids they brought with them, through the town to see the lights.
Meanwhile, St. Marks-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church will offer a yummy tradition.
(Royalty-free image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay)
From 4:00 to 8:00 pm, the church hall will be filled with gingerbread houses, for “Gingerbread Wonderland”. The edifices are decorated by local artisans and school children. Cookie sales, children’s crafts and visits with Santa will be a part of the fun. And besides being a festive, family-friendly time, “Gingerbread Wonderland” is a benefit event for both Arts Outreach and St. Marks-in-the-Valley preschool.
But–don’t miss the tree lighting. It’s happening at 6:00 pm at the town’s central flagpole.
(Royalty-free image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.)
“Olde Fashioned Christmas is a locals-favorite event, year after year, but it also provides visitors with a family-friendly day of celebration in a town most known for wine tasting activities,” said Los Olivos Chamber of Commerce President Sandee Sanger, in a recent press release.
“…Our pedestrian-friendly country roads make for an atmospheric Christmas scene brimming with unique shopping opportunities, lots of food, cheer, and family fun.
Now, where is Los Olivos, if you’re not familiar? Located in the heart of Santa Barbara County, it’s approximately two-and-a-half hours northwest of Los Angeles, and just over four-and-a-half hours southeast of San Francisco.
(Royalty-free image by TizzleBDizzle from Pixabay)
Initially, for this post, I’d started listing times of each event. Perhaps an overall timeline would be more helpful, though, based on their press – release information:
12:00 noon – “Olde Fashioned Christmas” celebration begins with the opening of this year’s Artisan Holiday Market.
12:00 noon – 6:00 pm – Food trucks onsite near Community Craft, on Alamo Pintado
1:00 – 4:00 pm – Local singer/songwriter Bear Redell performs at Zinke Wine Co.
1:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Train rides available on the Summerset Farm & Dale’s “Train”.
2:00 – 5:00 pm – Petting zoo at Lavinia Campbell Park, the town’s main park.
2:00 – 5:00 pm – Live music, near Community Craft.
4:00 – 8:00 pm – “Gingerbread Wonderland”, at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley.
6:00 pm – Tree lighting, at Los Olivos’ central flagpole.