SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) - The year’s already new in the state of Denmark, so with its rich Danish heritage as part of Julefest, the city of Solvang rings in the New Year on their time – 3:00pm here in California.

Locals say the days of Christmas Eve and Christmas are usually a little thin but that visitor traffic this year was still surprisingly high despite the unusual weather patterns.

Business owners say what the storms really did was shift all the visitor traffic to an overwhelming December 27th, the Saturday when the sun returned after all the rain.

Organizers say the second annual Copenhagen Countdown has had a ‘show-must-go-on’ approach, whether it’s raining or not, complete with a live performance from local band sensation, the Molly Ringwald Project.

The traditional closure of Julefest, the annual Christmas Tree Burn, is tentatively scheduled for the evening of January 9th, weather permitting.

Visitors say Solvang’s reputation as one of the best holiday towns speaks for itself when you visit during the holidays, rain or shine.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

The post Solvang’s Copenhagen Countdown Rings In 2026 On Denmark Time appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) - The city of Solvang rang in the new year this afternoon with the second annual Copenhagen Countdown.

It's already 2026 in Denmark, so with its rich Danish heritage as part of Julefest, the city of Solvang rings in the new year on their time, which is 3:00pm here in California.

“The afternoon part of it is because we wanted to have an event that was with our, you know, Denmark, Copenhagen, but also for families,” says Candice Libera, City Of Solvang’s Marketing And Events coordinator. “So they can come out and have this event with their kids, do this, but then still have the night time to go do whatever other event they'd like to do in the valley.”

Locals say the days of Christmas Eve and Christmas saw visitor traffic this year that was still surprisingly high despite the rain.

“This year, because of the weather, I think in the rains it was really, you know, pushed into the weekend specifically,” says Annalan Cucki, co-owner and winemaker at Final Girl Wines.

Business owners say what the storms really did was shift all the visitor traffic to an overwhelming December 27th, when the weather cleared up.

“This is a super small operation and my husband basically runs this place and we have one employee,” says Cucki. “And on Saturday he the one employee had the day off, it was Peter by himself. And that guy happened to walk by and decided he needed to come in and kind of help.”

Organizers say the second annual Copenhagen countdown has had a show-must-go-on approach, whether it's raining or not. Complete with a live performance from local band sensation the Molly Ringwald Project.

“It seems like the weather's cleared up just enough for this to happen,” says The Molly Ringwald Project’s Ian Musgrove. “And you know what? It's probably raining and snowing in Europe right now anyway, so I think the weather is perfect,” says the band’s lead vocalist Roxanne Morgenstern. “Feels very authentic,” says Musgrove.

The traditional closure of Julefest, the annual Christmas Tree Burn, is tentatively scheduled for the evening of January 9th, weather permitting.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On OurMobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for theNews Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

The post Solvang’s Copenhagen Countdown Rings In 2026 On Denmark Time appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

The post New Year Events Happening in Downtown Santa Barbara appeared first on edhat.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Santa Barbara is facing another round of rain as storms continue after Christmas week.

With repeated downpours falling during the holiday season, questions are emerging about how wet weather could influence downtown shopping activity.

A store owner at Crafters Library says rainy conditions may discourage visitors, particularly tourists who drive much of downtown foot traffic, while indoor, experience-based shops could be less affected.

The impact of back-to-back storms on retail remains to be seen as the rain continues.

The post Back-to-Back Rains Raise Questions for Santa Barbara Retail appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Small Plane Crashes Near Highway 101 in Goleta, Two Seriously Injured

A small plane crash along Highway 101 north of the Storke Road offramp left a shocking scene for those traveling through the Goleta area back in January. Two professional pilots employed by filmmaker Robert Zemeckis were seriously injured in the fiery scene.

Flight data shows the Cirrus SR22 departed Santa Barbara Airport at 1:51 p.m. The crash occurred a short time later around 2:15pm.

Videos captured by witnesses, including Steve Epstein, shows the aircraft engulfed in flames, burning while bystanders and California Highway Patrol officer Ricardo Ayala rushed over a fence to assist the pilots. Click here to read more.

UCSB Student Dies Following a Fall from Campus Residence Hall, Family Confirms

The death of UC Santa Barbara freshman Elizabeth Hamel broke hearts amongst students and community members when news broke the 18-year-old had died of injuries sustained after a fall from an on-campus residence hall in February.

On the night of February 14th, Hamel was found unconscious outside San Rafael Hall following what seemed to be a night out with friends. Elizabeth was pronounced dead on February 20th. With little transparency from the university, questions arose around the young girl's death – How did Elizabeth gain access to a building she didn't live in? And who is the young man she was last seen with?

Just recently, UC Police officially ruled Hamel's death as an “accidental fall.” However, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office confirmed to Your News Channel that "the case is under review."

Her father Alain describes her as "talented, beautiful, glamorous, intelligent, and funny — all of those things." She was incredibly kind, and "cared so deeply about her friends, always thinking about how to make them happy, how to help them, and how to show up for them." Click here to read more.

Family Members confirm Body found near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard to be Missing Teen

The body of San Fernando Valley teen, Oscar Omar Hernandez, was discovered in Oxnard in April just a few days after his family had reported him miss