by Noella Noelophile®
(Photo courtesy of SolvangUSA.com, and used with permission.)
One of America’s most “Christmassy” towns kicks off their annual celebration today!
For the next month, Solvang, “The Danish Capital of America”, hosts their annual “Julefest” celebration.
And besides favorites like the annual Nisser Adventure and Solvang Nativity Pageant, expect some exciting additions.
“Every year we try to find new ways to add just a bit more charm to our enchanting Danish village holiday celebration, Solvang Julefest,” said Solvang City Manager Randy Murphy in a recent email.
(Royalty-free image by Couleur from Pixabay.)
A new addition
One new feature which will especially charm visiting families? Book signing and storytime sessions with local authors Adam and Kate McHugh, as they launch their first children’s book, Ferd and the Magic Hat: A Solvang Christmas Story!
These are scheduled for Friday, December 5th, from 4 to 7 pm, at The Book Loft.
Illustrated by Allie Daigle, the imaginative tale celebrates the Solvang community, with its heritage and spirit of “hygge”(pronounced hue-geh, and meaning a feeling of well-being) during the Christmas season.
And a number of events, happening throughout the next month, will almost certainly spark that feeling in anyone who visits Solvang.
Tours (daylight and candlelight), great shopping, nightly light shows, and meet-and-greets with Santa will all be part of the celebration.
Overall “hygge”
(Photo courtesy of SolvangUSA.com, and used with permission.)
And those mischievous “Nisser” (gnomes) are at it again.
From now through January 4th, the annual Nisser Adventure has participants of all ages searching through downtown Solvang, where the Christmas elves have hidden. Find all of them, then return to the Solvang Visitor Center to receive a special keepsake.
Meanwhile, Santa’s Village is open, in Solvang Park. Santa meet-and-greets and photo opportunities are happening on Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 4:00 pm, from tomorrow, November 29th, through Sunday, December 21st. (And weather permitting, you’ll get to hear Christmas carolers, courtesy of the caroling group, Christmas Matters!)
Then, this evening at 5:00, the first of Solvang’s Light, Music and Snow Shows happens in Solvang Park, at the corner of Mission Drive and First Street.
With choreographed light and music displays, two different 10-minute shows will alternate, on the hour, each evening, from 5:00 to 9:00. And each show ends with a flurry of light snow!
In addition, several types of festive tours are scheduled.
(Royalty-free image by NoName_13 from Pixabay.)
Tours for every taste
There’s the Hygge Holiday Candlelight Tour, an evening walking tour, which currently shows first availability at 5:00 pm on Wednesday evening, December 3rd. Then, the Fairy Tale Candlelight Tour, which shares stories of some of the works of Hans Christian Andersen, is available on multiple dates, starting with Saturday, December 6th at 5 pm. And for a walking tour of Solvang in the daytime, there’s the “Jul Daylight Tour“, at 10 am on multiple weekend dates in December, starting with Saturday, the 12th.
The Solvang Trolley Christmas Light Tour, complete with hot chocolate, returns this year to enchant riders with a nighttime look at local light displays. But, I apologize, a nisse appears to have gotten into my interface–clicking to try to give you available dates has had no results so far!
(Royalty-free image by Pasja1000 from Pixabay.)
And, on weekends in December through the first weekend in January, there’s a 5:30 pm, one-hour tour that’s just a teeny bit eerie (in a fun way!): the “Ghosts of Christmas Past”Holiday Tour! This is a kid-friendly adventure through downtown Solvang, focusing on winter magic and folklore.
The “scariest” aspect of it? Not getting tickets in time! This tour tends to sell out in a hurry; now is the time to make reservations!
(Photo courtesy of SolvangUSA.com, and used with permission.)
The “ghost” of hygge future
There are also several dates you may want to note.
Three Wednesdays in December, Solvang Park hosts a Makers Market: an open-air night market, modeled after traditional European Christmas markets! From 3:00 to 7:00 pm on December 3rd, 10th and 17th, come meet local crafters and artisans as they display their unique gifts and seasonal treats in a setting that recently made Newsweek’s Reader’s Choice list as one of the ten best Christmas markets in the nation.
On Friday, December 5th, at 5:00 pm, the Solvang Julefest Tree Lighting Ceremony begins, with a program of entertainment that concludes with the lighting of the giant tree at approximately 6:30 pm.
(Photo courtesy of SolvangUSA.com, and used with permission.)
Also that weekend: the 2025 Solvang Julefest Parade takes place! Starting off at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 6th, the parade travels along Solvang’s main streets. Expect to see classic cars, parade floats, horses, marching bands, and a VIP guest whom you’re invited to meet in Solvang Park, post-parade.
Finally, for now? The following weekend, December 13th and 14th, may also be dates for your calendar.
(Royalty-free image by Gerd Altman from Pixabay.)
On Saturday, December 13th, from 10:00 am to noon, Therapy Dogs of America invite you to bring your pup to Solvang Park and pose for a picture during their free “Photos with Santa Paws” event! And if your household happens to be canine-less, you’re also welcome to pose with one of their therapy dogs.
Then, on Sunday, December 14th at 5:00 pm, the 42nd Annual Solvang Nativity Pageant takes place at Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church. The church’s website lists a “pre-show” at 4:00 pm, prior to the program, which tells the “Christmas story” with music, a cast of actors and live animals. After the show, audience members are invited to an “aftershow fellowship time” with food for purchase, and free kids’ activities.
And–that’s it, for now! Glædelig jul to all, and to all–have fun!