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reliminary plans are in store for this year’s Solvang Julefest, the Santa Ynez Valley wine country town’s annual celebration of all things “holidays”.
The holiday season event will be Nov. 27 through Jan. 1, 2022 and entail multiple holiday happenings within the walkable California Central Coast destination, recently named by Oprah Daily as one of the “Most Magical Christmas Towns and Villages Across the World”. “Solvang’s Julefest festivities are making a triumphant return this year, after last year’s highly modified version of the beloved annual event. We will still have some slight modifications in place this year to accommodate the ongoing pandemic, but we will also be introducing some new Julefest elements for the enjoyment of our locals and visitors,” said Scott Shuemake, President of IDK Events, planners and organizers of Solvang Julefest 2021. As one of the nation’s most Christmasy towns, Solvang will present a refreshed line-up of Julefest offerings and extra holiday cheer in the form of new illuminated displays, celebratory scenescapes and settings, in an effort to enhance the “hygge” holiday ambiance already native to the atmospheric city. Plans are in place for the return of the Solvang Julefest Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 3 in Solvang Park, including ballerinas encircling the tree, live entertainment, and caroling. A parade is also in the works for Dec. 4. During Solvang Julefest, the
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Find Nisse (The D village will once again host its now-annual Nisse Adventure, where participants join in a citywide hunt for the mysterious Solvang Nisse (Christmas elves) which will have hidden themselves throughout downtown Solvang. Elf-trackers may visit http://www.NisseAdventure.com, where they will find animated videos containing clues to the various hiding spots which the Nisse frequents. Once guests find each Nisse they scan a QR code to continue along the adventure, earning a special prize at completion. Saturdays throughout the Julefest stretch, town-wide Solvang Food Tours will be led by the foodie – and photo – experts at Eat This, Shoot That!, and the popular evening Candlelight Tours will return select Saturday nights (November 27; December 4, 11, 18), tickets for which include holiday-themed refreshments and a VIP Santa meet and greet expe-
rience. Either tour option presents a unique, educational, and entertaining way to explore the history-filled village on foot during the most festive of Solvang’s seasons. Shuemake continued, “Solvang Julefest is an iconic holiday season ‘thing’ along California’s Central Coast. It shines a twinkly light on Solvang’s Danish heritage. We’re so excited to be able to bring it back this year, for everyone looking for a little bit of a European holiday in Southern California.” Certain Solvang Julefest 2021 components will take shape as COVID regulations allow, like this year’s “Nordpolen” in Solvang Park, where Santa will greet guests select Saturday afternoons during Julefest in the park’s Gazebo-turned-Santa’s-Workshop. Solvang, known for its Danish-American roots, architecture and design details, pastries, bakeries and plentiful wine tasting options, also boasts dozens upon
