Move to River View Park gives annual event more space, more options
Those who attended the Buellton Winter Fest in 2024 got to again enjoy the 20 tons of snow, the holiday marketplace, and the various food trucks — not to mention the chance to see Santa Claus — but also had the chance to experience other ticketed items thanks to a change of venue.
The annual event, held at Village Park off McMurray Road the last two years, made the move to River View Park this year. The relocation meant more room for the Festival to spread out this year and also to add a few things.
As usual, the city was able to bring 20 tons of snow for kids to play in. The white stuff was put in an area on the western side of the park, where kids (and maybe some adults) could be seen playfully throwing it around, and even building big piles of it so they could make a snow slide.
Not too far from there could be a few run rides for the kiddies to enjoy, as well as a bounce house.
Meanwhile, vendors and food trucks could be seen in the middle and right side of the park, and there was also room to put a beer and wine garden in the middle of it all. The move and bigger size wasn’t lost on one person in Buellton.
“It all looks really good,” said Buellton’s Mayor-elect David Silva, who came to take part in the actual tree lighting. “People have more room to move about on this space; I think it would be a good idea to bring it back to this park.”
Silva also noted they had to bring it the city’s official tree to River View Park for the event.
“Hopefully we can get a permanent tree here soon to serve as a focal point for this park and event,” he said.
The tree was the sight of some entertainment as various acts and dance troupes were able to perform at a temporary stage in front of the holiday pine.
Jesus Solorio opened the Sol Dance Lab in Buellton earlier this year, and during the Winter Fest, he and his students got to shown their stuff. Solorio also runs the dance program at Allan Hancock College, and some of his dancers from that program got to perform also.
“This has been great; its the very first time a lot of people have had the chance to perform here,” Solorio said. “This was a very last-minute thing; we had asked about doing this at the Winter Fest but they had someone lined up, but when the other group fell through, I was able to contact them and set it up.”
Another aspect to the new location, where the admission was free, was its proximity to two more Buellton-based holiday ticketed events: The Holiday Lights Festival, held at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanical Garden at the west end of the park, and Cowboy Christmas, held near the Willemsen property on the east side of the park.
Anyone wanting to catch either the Holiday Lights Festival or Cowboy Christmas have just this upcoming weekend to experience it at River View Park. For tickets, you can go to either one’s website: syvholidaylights.com or syvcowboychristmas.com
Meanwhile, no word yet on whether the Winter Fest will return to River View Park for 2025, but you can check on the event site: syvholidaylights.com
Feature Image: Anyone going to the Buellton Winter Fest on Sunday, Dec. 8, could also go next door and check out the Holiday Lights Festival at the SYV Botanical Gardens. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS
