It’s finally here. Some wait all year for the span of time we call the holiday season to arrive with its colorful lights, shiny tinsel, and jingling bells at the ready.
Local cities and organizations have been waiting too, to round up parades and deck out and light the trees with public gatherings of community togetherness and fun. Whether it’s Solvang’s citywide celebration of Julefest, or the local Rotary Clubs’ Christmas Parade of Lights in Santa Maria, there is plenty to enjoy for locals in the mood for some holiday cheer.
A tree lighting ceremony hosted by the Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce happens on Dec. 1 in Santa Ynez’s Old Town. There will be live music, refreshments, and a live dance performance by the students from the Fossemalle Dance Studio.
The following day Santa Maria begins its holiday festivities. Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary member Mike Gibson has been involved in the city’s Parade of Lights event every year for 21 years now as a volunteer or organizer. He’s the co-chair for the event, Gibson explained, and is helping direct the parade, which will feature close to 3,000 people marching, piloting, and riding vehicles and floats.
“What you’ll find, if you come out, is it’s a kind of kick-off to the holiday season,” Gibson said. “We estimate about 20,000 people there on the parade route, plus all the people watching it at home on TV, so it’s a pretty nice community event.”
The Parade of Lights starts at 5:20 p.m., on Dec. 2 just as dusk begins, so the lights will shine bright and colorful as the evening progresses.
Solvang’s Julefest celebration kicks off Dec. 2, with another yearly tradition in Solvang Park—the lighting of the Jule Tree.
The large, living tree in Solvang Park is festooned with lights every year, explained Laura Kath, who will be announcing the parade again this year. The tree lighting actually begins Julefest every year in the Danish tradition, Kath explained.
“The tree lighting itself is a very Danish experience, especially with the ballerinas dancing around the tree, the community coming together singing carols,” Kath said. “That very much is emblematic of a lot of things that happen in small villages in Denmark still to this day.”
The event is followed by a daytime parade on Dec. 3.
In Lompoc, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts a nighttime parade on Dec. 3, geared toward the kids, explained Recreation Manager Mario Guerrero. The Children’s Christmas Season Parade welcomes organizations, school bands, and families to walk the parade with colorful floats and bright lights. The parade ends with an appearance from Santa Claus at Lompoc’s Centennial Park.
“With the season, the parade just brings the community together,” Guerrero said. “The street is just lined with people three or four rows deep, so it’s a great opportunity for the community to come out.”
In Orcutt, however, the community Christmas parade takes place during the day, on Dec. 10. The Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade is celebrating its 55th year, explained organizer Kathryn Scott, and celebrates the season with “old town” tradition.
“We’re really trying to maintain the small-town feel to it. We really want people to feel that it’s a parade where you go to see your kids or your grandkids marching in it,” Scott said. “Because it’s a daytime parade we can still have horses and animals in the parade, and we have people walking with their dogs and some of the 4-H groups have their goats and stuff. That’s cool, we like that.”
Santa Maria
The city of Santa Maria holds its Tree Lighting Ceremony, which includes holiday displays, youth activities, refreshments, and entertainment, on Dec. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the City Hall courtyard at the corner of Broadway and Cook streets in Santa Maria. More info: cityofsantamaria.org.
The Christmas Parade of Lights, hosted by local Rotary Clubs features marching bands, community floats, lights, and Santa Claus and takes place on Dec. 3 at 5:20 p.m. on Broadway between Stowell and Main streets in Santa Maria. More info: smparadeoflights.org.
Orcutt
The Old Orcutt Stroll and Christmas Tree Lighting is an opportunity to enjoy several holiday activities on Dec. 2 starting at 5 p.m. in Old Orcutt.
The Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade is a fun mix of kids, animals, floats, and bands on Dec. 10 at noon on Clark Avenue in Orcutt. More info: orcuttchristmasparade.org.
Lompoc
The Lompoc annual Children’s Christmas Season Parade is themed Christmas Trees and Memories on Dec. 3 and begins at 6 p.m. on H Street in Lompoc. More info: 875-8100.
Solvang
Julefest in Solvang features a month of holiday events, including a Community Tree Lighting Ceremony with live entertainment on Dec. 2 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Solvang Park.
Shop, Mingle, and Jingle is a series of merchant-driven events Dec. 2 through 4 and Dec. 9 through 11 at Solvang Park.
The Julefest Parade features more than 300 participants including dancers, musical groups, vintage vehicles, horses, carriages, and animals on Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang. More info: 688-7529.
Santa Ynez
The Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce presents its third annual Christmas Tree Lighting Party, which includes a visit from Santa Claus, refreshments, live music, and a performance by the Fossemalle Dance Studio on Dec. 1 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at 3575 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 688-6317 or [email protected].
Arts Editor Joe Payne is untangling strings of holiday lights. Contact him at [email protected].
