Solvang Julefest Danish Christmas Festival in California

Solvang Julefest

Christmas is a magical time of year and Solvang Julefest is the perfect way to celebrate the season.

You can join in the fun for a day or spend a few days in this wonderful Christmassy Danish Village in California.

Julefest (pronounced ‘yule-fest’) runs daily from December 1st to January 5th.

Special events vary throughout the festival, but there is fun to be had each and every day.

I was there for the Julefest Wine and Beer Walk (Skal Stroll) this year, which was a lot of fun.

One of my favorite activities is one that visitors can do any day at their own pace and it’s free to participate.

Jule Nisse is a magical elf-like creature popular in Danish folklore.

Nisse is said to bring good luck and prosperity and, also, Nisse likes to hide.

There are a dozen lucky Nisse hidden throughout downtown Solvang.

Stop by the Solvang Visitors’ Center to pick up a map and list of clues, so that you can find all 12 hidden Nisse.

Take a picture of each one with your phone and then return to the Center to show them your pictures.

Then, they’ll give you a little prize.

This is a fun way for adults and kids to explore the town.

Solvang is an excellent place to visit.

It is a reasonable drive north from Los Angeles, so it can be a nice day trip.

However, it’s also nice to extend the stay and turn it into a vacation.

I always have a good time in Solvang, so I hope to visit again soon.

Happy travels!