What Makes Solvang One of California’s Top Seasonal Holiday Getaways

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, you may not find it in California. However, that doesn’t mean the holiday season isn’t a festive, family-friendly experience. One of California’s incredible holiday getaways is the gorgeous Solvang, which was recently ranked by House Beautiful as the fourth-most-festive Christmas town in America. 

Solvang is a beautiful city with a Danish-inspired style situated in Southern California’s Santa Ynez Valley. It has a rustic European look that draws many visitors, and the city pulls out all the stops for Christmas. Let’s look at why Solvang is one of the best cities in the country for a holiday vacation.

If you are heading to Solvang during the holiday season, you certainly won’t want to miss out on Julefest. Julefest is a month-long celebration leading up to Christmas that runs from late November to early January. It is a family-friendly event with something for everyone. The town leans heavily into its Danish influence for this popular Christmas attraction.

There are many enjoyable happenings throughout Julefest. The Candlelight Tours feature local guides dressed in Danish holiday garb leading informative candlelight explorations through the village. With nightly live music, a massive tree-lighting ceremony, a nativity show, a town Christmas parade, Danish dancers, and much more, it is a one-of-a-kind celebration that provides endless entertainment and family fun.

One of the reasons that people head to Solvang throughout the holiday season is to enjoy its beautiful setting, with the look and feel of a European Christmas village. The town has a traditional Danish design, with cozy rustic homes, windmills, and shops. Its look is part of its history, having been colonized by Danish settlers, and it has many historic buildings still standing from its early days.

This quaint Danish style provides the perfect backdrop for Christmas fun on the holidays. Already appealing, Solvang’s atmosphere is enhanced during the holidays, decorated from top to bottom. The town is covered in Christmas lights, has streamers and decor on every corner, and provides an unforgettable place to enjoy a family-friendly festive holiday season.

The holiday season is the busiest time of year for shoppers as they scramble to find the right gifts for friends and family. It can feel overwhelming, particularly with the big crowds and frantic atmosphere. Solvang might be a small town, but it has a lot to provide for shoppers, making it the ideal place to take care of some of your holiday shopping needs.

If you are looking for something creative and fun, the Makers Market is the place to shop at Julefest. It is an artisan market where local creators sell handmade works ranging from jewelry and pottery to clothes and paintings. Other unique shopping destinations include the Solvang Spice Merchant, where you can buy hand-bottled spices and locally created cookbooks, and The Giving Ink, where visitors can purchase handmade paper goods.

Some of the most popular reasons to visit Solvang are its incredible drinking and dining options. Solvang’s location in the Santa Ynez Valley makes it an ideal destination for wine lovers, with the numerous vineyards and wineries that surround the city. There are many wine rooms throughout the town offering tastings and pairings, and a local mulled wine is the perfect way to warm up on a crisp winter’s day.

The town’s Danish influence also extends to its food scene. You can enjoy traditional Danish pastries at many of the town’s bakeries, and many superb restaurants serve traditional dishes and offer inspired holiday menus.