Nothing beats a European Christmas market during the holiday season, handmade ornaments, mulled wine, and enough tasty treats to keep you happy until the New Year. But for those on the West Coast of the U.S., taking a winter trip across the pond might be out of the question, given the distance and because it’s already a busy, expensive time of year. Fortunately, there’s a small town in California that can help you get your European holiday fix.
Solvang, California, is also known as “The Danish Capital of America” thanks to a group of immigrants who settled there in the early 1900s. It’s situated just 45 minutes northwest of Santa Barbara and offers a main street full of Danish architecture, bakeries, and museums.
Each December, Solvang shifts into full holiday mode with special events, light shows, and themed festivities that might have you thinking you’re in Scandinavia, it’s a bucket list place that is guaranteed to be good holiday fun for the whole family. Here are a few things to know before you visit Solvang this holiday season.
Welcome to Julefest
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While it may look like Christmas from afar, the town is actually celebrating a month-long event called Julefest, a Danish-style holiday celebration that begins at the end of November and features special events, holiday shopping, parades, a tree lighting ceremony, and candlelit tours.
Throughout the entire month, the streets are filled with pop-up performances, themed markets, and family-friendly activities. You can even join in on the “Copenhagen countdown” on New Year’s Eve to celebrate 2026 a few time zones ahead of time.
Events run on different schedules, so it’s worth checking the calendar ahead of time to know what the town might have in store. Regardless of when you visit, there is sure to be some kind of special event happening for Julefest, things like caroling, a scavenger hunt, or a window decorating contest, on top of all of the other great restaurants and local shops that Solvang already has to offer.
The Perfect Weekend Getaway
Image Credit:HannaTor / Shutterstock.
Solvang is relatively small, so some Californians might not even realize this Danish enclave is right in their backyard. Given its somewhat central location within the state, Solvang makes for the perfect quick weekend trip, you can hop on the 101, and in just a few hours, you’ll be wandering streets lined with half-timbered facades that look like they are straight out of Copenhagen.
Once you arrive, nearly everything is walkable, so you can leave the car parked for most of the weekend, part of the charm of visiting during the holidays is wandering around to see all of the light displays and decorated streets, after all.
There are a few small hotels and inns right in the center of town, and nearby Santa Ynez and Los Olivos offer slightly more upscale accommodations if you need additional space or just want to stay closer to the vineyards.
Two to three nights are enough to see all of the highlights in town, including stopping into a tasting room, trying aebleskiver, a famous Danish pastry, at one of the cafés, and picking up gifts from the small boutiques around the main square, all while soaking up all of the holiday atmosphere.
Christmas Cocktails for the Adults
For those in search of something cheerful in their glass, make sure to check out the holiday-themed pop-up at Craft House at Corque, a popular local restaurant right in the heart of town. In the few weeks leading up to Christmas, the venue is transformed into a festive wonderland with wall-to-wall decorations, holiday music on repeat, and cocktails served in kitschy, oversized mugs. It’s the perfect spot for a date night or an outing with friends or family to celebrate the season.
Keep in mind that reservations are required, and peak times, particularly the week leading up to Christmas, fill up quickly. If you manage to snag a spot, you’ll be promised an evening you won’t forget, complete with tasty bites, eggnog, laughs, and plenty of holiday spirit.
Endless Photo Ops
Besides getting your picture taken with Santa, a must-do activity whether you are visiting with kids or not, Solvang offers picturesque photo ops everywhere you look. The windmills that line the town, the Danish-style architecture, the decorated storefronts, and the glow from the hundreds of holiday light displays all make it feel like the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
While it’s unlikely that you’ll see any snow, you’ll still want to bundle up and channel your inner hygge, even if it’s still t-shirt weather. Wandering around in the evenings, when the lights are on, and the streets feel extra festive is an easy way to beat the crowds and see the town at its best without planning around a specific event, be sure to find a mug of hot cocoa, and you just might fool a few of your social media followers into thinking you were actually in Denmark.