(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-PLMSBWP');     (function(a,b,c,d){     a='//tags.tiqcdn.com/utag/thunder/goldenstate/prod/utag.js';     b=document;c='script';d=b.createElement(c);d.src=a;d.type='text/java'+c;d.async=true;     a=b.getElementsByTagName(c)[0];a.parentNode.insertBefore(d,a);     })();
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.9&appId=172847629912656"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

Friday Finds: Holiday Festivals

Eat, drink and be merry.

The holiday season is official on, and everywhere you look it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. If you want to turn the volume up the yuletide, these dazzling spots throughout California really know how to deck the halls. Cue the cocoa and sleigh bells…  

123 Farms

Christmas Nights at 123 Farms

Through January 8, 5-10 p.m. (Closed Tuesday)

Take a whimsical ride around Christmas Nights at 123 Farm featuring festive food and drinks, horse-drawn carriage tours, s’mores pits and Santa with a display of over one million lights.  

Cornish Christmas. Left photo by Curtis Gruss.

Cornish Christmas | Grass Valley

Through December 23, 6-9 p.m. Cornish Christmas invites you to mill around downtown, stroll with your favorite hot beverage from the GVDA and Chamber Holiday Beverage Booths and visit a Winter Festival of Cornish Christmas favorites you know and love.  Shop our “Downtown Promenade” and Main Street with extended Holiday Hours.

Downtown Grass Valley will be filled with the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned Christmas; carolers, musicians, and a fire pit to warm your hands.  Look for Santa and Mrs. Claus, Snow Queen, the Tree Lady, and other holiday characters.  The event hosts craft and food vendors, and the town shops, restaurants, wine-tasting rooms, tap houses, and bars are open.  The streets will be awash in festive holiday décor, lights, and sparkling windows.

Julefest | Solvang

Through January 1

The annual Solvang Julefest brings Old World traditions to today’s Santa Barbara wine country. With authentic Danish-style buildings and windmills for a backdrop, costumed carolers, bands, and equestrians take to the streets for the Julefest Parade. You can sample local varietals (as well as craft beers) during the two-day Julefest Wine & Beer Walk and finish your gift shopping—and get great deals—during the Shop, Mingle & Jingle event. There’s also a living nativity re-enactment. It all comes to a dramatic end with the annual Christmas Tree Burn, a bonfire outside Old Mission Santa Inés in early January. 

Check out more holiday festival ideas HERE

More Stories
Arts + Culture, Music + Podcasts

Monday Moods: “Good Vibe Tribe”

New seasonal classics and alternative takes on old favorites.

Arts + Culture, Makers + Entrepreneurs, Tech

From Aerospace Engineer to Muay Thai Champ

SoCal’s Janet Todd won her first title on her second fight. Now she’s looking for number 13.

Experiences

One Man’s Journey From Los Angeles to Tijuana in a Kayak

When Andrew Szabo, a 46-year-old Manhattan Beach entrepreneur, told his wife that his midlife crisis involved the purchase of an ocean kayak and the desire to paddle from MB to Tijuana, her reaction was simple: “Have a good trip, and make sure your life insurance premiums are paid.” What followed were three months of intense preparations, a life-changing journey and becoming part of the global battle to raise awareness for tuna overfishing.

Get the Latest Stories

Receive the latest films, stories and curated content from Golden State.

By clicking the subscribe button, I agree to receive occasional updates from Golden State.