Cars, performers, community groups, and one big ‘Grinch-Cow’ marks event as Julefest now in full swing
Whenever a town holds a Christmas parade, you can just about bet at least a few of the entries going down the route will take on the persona of The Grinch, the character famous for trying to “steal Christmas.”
The Solvang Julefest Parade, which starting late morning on Dec. 6 was no different as at least a couple appeared at the parade dressed in the green, furry costume recognizable as The Grinch.
But, then there was a third moving along Mission Drive on this sunny Saturday, but this one was a little different: This one had four legs, and with the green fur came a couple of long horns painted like candy canes.
Jesse Taylor has made a habit of entering local parades with his prized steer, but this year he decided to get it into the Christmas spirit. Ergo, the bright green dye job on the fur and paint job on the horns.
“Well, I ordered a Grinch costume to wear today, but it didn’t get delivered in time, so I figured I’d turn the animal into The Grinch,” Taylor said. “It’s definitely getting noticed.”
Taylor’s entry, dubbed “Beefer the Grinch-Cow” was one of 48 for the parade, which was held under sunny skies and witness by a huge crowd lined along the streets as the entries started west down Mission Drive, with a left at 4th Place, another left at Copenhagen Drive, east down Copenhagen, and a left at Alisal Road and back to the staging areas at Mission Santa Ines and the Veterans Hall.
As usual, there was quite a mix of entries walking or motoring down the route, including vehicles (vintage, classic, military, and cycles ridden by the Nimbus Motorcycle Club), performers (Ua Noe Polynesian Dance, Pacific Flips Gymnastics, Fossemalle Dance Studio), school groups (Santa Ynez High cheer and boys basketball, SYV Family School, Lucky Clover 4-H, Mechapirates SYHS Robotics team) and much more.
And, of course, the parade’s last entry came through with a big “Ho, Ho, Ho” as Santa and Mrs. Claus made their usual appearance in a vehicle that included wodden likenesses of his famous reindeer.
Meanwhile, the Vikings of Solvang were there riding their Viking ship and throwing candy out to the kids watching (as did many other entries). and decided once around the route wasn’t enough, as they went Mission a second time and completing a second lap around the parade route.
“We were going up Alisal to the end of the route, and we had some candy left, so we figured ‘why don’t we just stay in the parade?’” said Joe Tyson, the Viking chief for 2025. “So, once we got to the intesection, somebody let us in and we took a left to get back in the parade. We’d actually did it a few times in the past, so it was no big deal.”
After the parade was done, award were giving out the best entries, they were: Best Family Group — Pirate Youth Football and Cheer; Best Musical — Santa Ynez Valley Jazz Band; Best Equestrian/Animal — Lucky Clover 4-H; Sweepstakes — Santa Ynez Valley Family School.
The parade, and the Solvang tree-lighting ceremony the previous set the Solvang Julefest in full swing. For a list of activities and events through December and into January, go to solvangusa.com/things-to-do/solvang-julefest/
Full list of parade entries:
#1 SBC Fire Dept- Engine & Fire Truck 30
#2 American Legion Post 160- HONOR GUARD
#3 Flat Fender Friends
#4 41 Mack Fire Truck
#5 Boy Scouts- Solvang City Banner
#6 Santa Ynez High School Cheer
#7 Pirate Youth Football and Cheer
#8 Vikings of Solvang
#9 Danish Maid 2025
#10 Solvang Elementary School
#11 Lemos Feed & Pet Supply
#12 Premier Heating & Air
#13 Parties and Paint by Kate LLC.
#14 Ua Noe Polynesian Dance
#15 KIZA Internet
#16 Pacific Flips Gymnastics
#17 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
#18 LUCKY CLOVER 4-H
#19 Old Mission Santa Ines
#20 Fossemalle Dance Studio
#21 SYHS Boys Basketball Team
#22 Santa Ynez Pet Hospital
#23 The Zee & Georgie Jingle Brigade
#24 Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church
#25 SYV Humane Society/ DAWG
#26 Solvang Senior Center
#27 Solvang Theaterfest
#28 Solvang Spice Merchant
#29 Santa Ynez Valley Family School
#30 Highline Adventures
#31 Krampus
#32 Santa Ynez Valley Transit
#33 Mechapirates SYHS Robotics Team
#34 Santa Ynez Valley Jazz Band
#35 California Nature Art Museum
#36 Julia Tipolt State Farm Insurance
#37 Growing Goodness: A Nordic Yule
#38 Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA
#39 Rick & Ninni Lemus- Buellton Self Storage
#40 Krazy Country 105.9
#41 Sanger Family of Wines
#42 BEEFER THE GRINCH-COW
#43 Morgantini Christmas tree farm
#44 Paula Albrecht- 1961 Corvette & Yellow HotRod
#45 Nimbus Motorcycle Club
#46 Padilla Tile & Construction
#47 Hidden Wings
#48 Santa Claus
