Solvang, California
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from DK Group! To celebrate, we’re sharing four of our favorite festive facts about Santa Barbara County.
Origin of Santa Claus Lane: Ever wondered how this iconic Carpinteria street got its name? It all started in 1948, when Patrick McKeon opened a juice stand named “Santa”, where he would dress up as Santa Claus to attract customers. McKeon would receive an offer from a man wanting to build a Santa Claus statue on the roof of the stand for $500. Once built, the large Santa could be seen from the highway, attracting a whole new wave of customers. Soon more shops opened next to the stand including a toy store and candy store, creating a year-round Christmas village. McKeon and the owners of the land eventually renamed their stretch of the 101 to Santa Claus Lane. Though the village no longer exists, you can still see the original Santa Claus statue at its new home in Oxnard.
California’s Christmas Town: This year Newsweek named Solvang the Second Best Christmas Town! With its unique Nordic architecture and charming shops and bakeries, the sweet Danish Village in Santa Barbara’s Santa Ynez Valley has definitely earned its place among the best of the best. Solvang’s month-long Julefest celebration also adds to its festive flair, as the town gets a Christmas makeover with decorations, lights, trees, caroling and other fun holiday events. You can learn more about Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley here.
Best Neighborhood for Lights: There are many Santa Barbara homes that go all out with their Christmas decorations. But some of the best can be found in a small neighborhood between Las Positas Road and Victoria Springs. The homes here are large and bright, with incredible light displays, inflatables, and other festive decorations. In particular, we recommend visiting Veronica Place and Hillside House. If you’d like to see more, the Portesuello hills just next to this area also have some incredible displays.
A Local Holiday Hit: Did you know that Santa Barbara has its very own Christmas song? “It’s Christmas Once Again in Santa Barbara” is a song written by award winning singer, songwriter, and producer Barry De Vorzon. The Montecito local first released the song in 1995, and became an instant local hit. The song was eventually re-recorded with various other city names and lyrics, including San Francisco and San Diego. This is the perfect seasonal hit for Christmas lights viewing with the fam!
