Santa Barbara: Band On Wheels (courtesy: www.weetpea.com)

If you wish to get a look and feel of California, that too in pure Danish style, then a quick visit to the city of Solvang in California can take you closer to your wish. In spite of being located right in the heart of California, the numerous restaurants, offices and especially the architectural marvels offer a true taste of Denmark.

However, my associations with Solvang are quite different. Its not just the Danish culture that inspired my visit to this beautiful city, but also the rich and truly colorful events that this city is known to host, that made me travel all the way to Solvang. Since, my busy work schedule allowed me to visit the city only in the month of December, I had to look up only for the upcoming events of this month and one event that really lured me was the Solvang Christmas Parade. Though, the whole of winter season is marked by numerous colorful celebrations around the city, the Solvang Christmas Parade is the one that catches the limelight.

This Christmas Parade annually transforms the city of Solvang into an European-style setting and you are filled with mixed cultural displays. Beautifully put up festoons of lights and the city streets aglow with twinkling lights brighten up the Christmas mood and spirit and you actually find yourself moving to the tunes of the celebrating crowd. People dressed up as Santa’s move around on carriages, waving out to the cheering crowd, while, the streets are filled with dog

Santa Barbara: Santa On Carriage (courtesy: www.flickr.com)

pulled sledges holding mounds of Santa gifts. Young girls, wearing Santa caps, walk along the streets carrying handmade banners and Santa cartwheels. The people of Solvang believe that this annual Christmas Parade is one time when they can keep their worries at bay and rejoice to welcome the new year that is supposed to bring them luck and happiness and wash away all the bad experiences of the bygone year.

While the city streets are decked up with numerous food outlets, where the celebrating people can hang out, the street musicians take you by surprise as they add color to this authentic celebration. The street musicians are further joined by the carolers creating a magical symphony and you wish that they just wouldn’t stop. It is this magical charm of Solvang that attracts thousands of tourists every year, who come flocking to this city to become a part of the ongoing Christmas celebrations. Though, this is a free event for most part of it, some places do require you to pay an admission fee, and believe me, they are worth it.

Well, admission fee or no admission fee, if you are a fun loving person and want to enjoy a true Christmas celebration, then you just can’t afford to miss onto the Solvang Christmas Parade, just like me. Besides, this is also a good time to enjoy a luxurious stay at one of the santabarbara-hotels.

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