Staff Report
Julefest officially came to a close on Jan. 4 when a Friday night crowd got a little toasty standing near the pile of Christmas trees that were set ablaze by members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
“My favorite part is the community all coming together for a communal bonfire. The music, the food, and seeing all your friends is a fun away to wrap up the holiday season,” said valley resident Mikki Robinson.
The event is coordinated by the Solvang Parks and Recreation Department and supervised by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. It is billed as one of the largest fire safety demonstrations and community holiday gatherings on the Central Coast.
“Most importantly it is a really good fire safety demonstration for kids and adults. It is a great way for the community to connect with the fire department and to be able to thank them for their service this year,” Robinson added.
The past year has been busy for the various county and city fire departments as they worked tirelessly during many disasters that included the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flows in January 2018 to the Woolsey, Hill and Camp fires that ended the year.
The bonfire event included free entertainment and refreshments for purchase.
