FYI
The Solvang Fall Festival, with live music and a carnival, will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, with a street vendor fair added; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17.
By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
In a town often referred to a Danish version of Disneyland, a few locals have created an event that is intended to bring families together for a good time.
The Solvang Fall Festival will be mostly free-of-charge experience for families in the Santa Ynez Valley and neighboring communities on the weekend of Nov. 15-17, organized by Steve Renfrew of Solvang Brewing Company and Andres Nuño of En Fuego Events.
“I live in Carpinteria and thought about other local events like Avocado Festival, as they really do things for the entire family to enjoy. We wanted to bring something similar to the valley, as most of the festivals are centered around wine or beer and nothing for the kids to do,” Nuño said.
The Fall Festival will feature live music throughout the event from local and Central Coast bands, with a teenage Battle of the Bands contest on Saturday, Nov. 16. Nuño said there will be a special appearance by a member of a big-name band at the end of the contest.
Another highlight will be a carnival for kids with rides and games and a street vendor fair focusing on local businesses.
“Every business in Solvang is encouraged to come out and have a booth on the street to complement the brick and mortar shops,” Nuño said.
The vendor fair will block off First Street from Mission Drive to Copenhagen and down Copenhagen to Second Street. The booths will be arranged in the middle of the street so people can walk into the shops and through the booths to enhance local shopping.
Deadline for businesses to sign up for a vendor booth is Oct. 20. Those interested should sign up at https://enfuegoevents.wufoo.com/forms/solvang-fall-festival/. Registration is free for Solvang businesses.
Nuño said he is hoping to get approval to allow people to walk on the closed-off streets with an alcoholic beverage if they choose.
