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Huge traditional holiday celebration returns to the Santa Ynez Valley

Julesfest has returned to Solvang this year
Central Coast Pictures / SolvangUSA.com
Julefest has returned to Solvang this year

It’s a time of year when many communities on the Central and South Coast have holiday events.

After a pause last year because of the pandemic, Julefest (which is pronounced Yule-fest) is bringing holiday cheer to one of the nation's most Christmassy towns – Solvang.

Anna Ferguson-Sparks from Julefest, says it’s the perfect location to get into the holiday spirit.

"Solvang itself is almost like a storybook that's come to life, due to its Northern European and Scandinavian architecture," she told KCLU.

"This years Julefest is a triumphant return, and we were able to bring back almost all of the traditional events which have been running for decades and decades, in a somewhat COVID safe environment."

Caroline joined KCLU in October 2020. She won LA Press Club's Audio Journalist of the Year Award in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Since joining the station she's won 10 Golden Mike Awards, 6 Los Angeles Press Club Awards, 2 National Arts & Entertainment Awards and a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Writing.

She started her broadcasting career in the UK, in both radio and television for BBC News, 95.8 Capital FM and Sky News and was awarded the Prince Philip Medal for her services to radio and journalism in 2007.

She has lived in California for eleven years and is both an American and British citizen - and a very proud mom to her daughter, Elsie.