Solvang Julefest New Year’s Eve Celebration in Solvang Park

Solvang, California, the Danish-settled town in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley on California’s Central Coast, has announced details for another new facet of this year’s revamped Solvang Julefest: a December 31, 2019 family-friendly New Year’s Eve gathering in Solvang Park (corner of Mission Drive and First Street), “Dansk New Year” (www.SolvangJulefest.org/dansknewyear). Dansk New Year will run 11:00 AM through 3:00 PM, and will essentially entail a countdown to the Danish New Year, including a simulcast of the New Year’s Eve events taking place in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens. The clock strikes midnight in Denmark at 3:00 PM Pacific, and the daytime celebration will also feature holiday goodies, games, music and Danish tradition.

The post-Christmas holiday event continues the month-long Solvang Julefest (www.SolvangJulefest.org), which will culminate with a January 3, 2020 Christmas Tree Burn and Fire Safety Demonstration (5:00 PM-7:00 PM; www.SolvangJulefest.org/treeburn). The annual Julefest happening, held in the fields of Old Mission Santa Inés (1760 Mission Drive, Solvang) and supervised by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, is one of the largest fire safety demos and community gatherings on California’s Central Coast. Coordinated by Solvang Parks & Recreation, the Tree Burn will include free, live entertainment and refreshments for purchase. For more information on this special Solvang event, call 805.688.7529.

Continuing 2019 Solvang Julefest Events include:

Santa’s Village in Solvang Park (last occurrence is Saturday, December 21; 12:00 PM-4:00 PM) — Free visits and Santa photos opps for the whole family, in Solvang Park (corner of Mission Drive and First Street). First come, first seated with the famous Mr. Claus. New to this year’s Santa’s Village, a photographic scene for capturing “holiday moments” in the Solvang Park Gazebo, plus Santa’s Lade (Santa’s Barn), a kid-friendly play area including snow and live animals – which, this coming weekend, is a reindeer.

Christmas Drone Show, “Aurora Dronealis” (6:00 PM; Saturday, December 21) — A nighttime lights spectacular, the new Solvang Julefest Christmas Drone Show, “Aurora Dronealis”, will be the only holiday drone show of its kind in Southern California, during the month of December. The show will be launched from Lot 72 in downtown Solvang. VIP and general admission grandstand viewing is available for purchase; please visit www.SolvangDrones.com for ticketing and further details.

Nisse Adventure (runs through January 3, 2020) — Kids of all ages are invited to explore Solvang while trying to locate 12 Danish Christmas Elves known as Jule Nisse (pronounced ‘Yule Nee-suh’), each about 16 inches tall, during this dynamic, festive scavenger hunt. All Julefest long, using NisseAdventure.com, clues will be provided to lead Nisse hunters to the elves’ various hiding spots. Once adventurers find a Nisse, they will scan a QR Code to continue the hunt and to earn a special prize at each hiding place. Nisse Adventure may be completed at guests’ leisure, but must be completed by January 3, 2020.

Solvang Candlelight Walking Tours (5:00 PM; Saturdays, December 21 and December 28) — Free, 60-minute guided tours depart from the Solvang Visitor Center (1639 Copenhagen Drive). A costumed tour guide will provide guests with a complimentary, souvenir, battery-powered LED candle, and will then share Solvang’s history and fun facts while strolling and caroling along village sidewalks.

VIP Solvang Candlelight Walking Tours (6:00 PM; Saturday, December 28) — 60-minute guided tour departs from Santa’s Barn in Solvang Park (Mission Drive at First Street). Stroll and carol around downtown Solvang with a battery-powered LED candle, and a costumed tour guide who will share insider heritage and history. The tour concludes with a private meet-and-greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot cocoa and cookies. Tickets are $25.00 per person (children under the age of ‘2’ are free), with a limited 24 guests. Purchase tickets online, at www.SolvangJulefest.org.

Christmas Market Light Show (6:00 PM-8:00 PM; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, December 19-21 and December 26-28) — New to Solvang Julefest, the Christmas Market Light Shows take place on Copenhagen Drive. The shows include various sources of light choreographed to holiday music. Four shows per night, illuminating one of Solvang’s prime shopping destinations. The evening experience accompanies extended hours at select Solvang merchants, restaurants and activities throughout town.

The weekend of December 14 and 15, Solvang Julefest also hosted the Skål Wine & Stein Stroll – a signature, passport event featuring tastings at more than a dozen wine and beer tasting rooms throughout the village. As part of this year’s Stroll, guests also judged two tasting venues as they uncorked their respective takes on a traditional Gløgg (mulled red wine) for the holidays: Cali Love Wine and Wandering Dog Wine Bar. The 2019 Solvang Julefest Gløgg Contest winner, was Wandering Dog Wine Bar.

Solvang, repeatedly named as one of the best Christmas destinations in the U.S., continues its annual celebration of all things “holiday”, Solvang Julefest (pronounced ‘Yule-Fest’) through January 3, 2020. Solvang Julefest activities are continually being added and updated at www.SolvangJulefest.org. The 2019 Solvang Julefest events are produced by the City of Solvang (www.CityofSolvang.com) in partnership with Northern California-based IDK Events (www.idkevents.com).

All Solvang Julefest events are open to the public with either free or paid admission. More information is available at www.SolvangJulefest.org, with direct links to ticketing for the paid portions of the holiday happenings. Event updates will also be posted to the Solvang Julefest Instagram and Facebook accounts: @SolvangJulefest and facebook.com/SolvangJulefest.