The Charming Town In Michigan Where You Can Still Experience An Old-Fashioned Christmas
An old-fashioned Christmas consists of falling snow, a warm fire, and chestnuts roasting over an open fire. You’ll find all that and more when you visit the picturesque town of Holland, Michigan during the holiday season.
Holland, Michigan is right on the shores of Lake Michigan, which dumps beautiful lake-effect snow all over the town. Majestic Big Red Lighthouse stands tall at Holland State Park and is lovely to view, even in the colder months. You will want to pack a warm coat, hat, and gloves when you visit this winter wonderland.
The crown jewel of Holland is the charming downtown that runs down Eighth Street. There are so many Christmas events that you can find something to do every weekend!
Downtown Holland’s Christmas events include the Holiday Open House where all the shops unveil seasonal decorations and offer sales. You’ll find Santa Claus strolling through town and even free chestnuts roasting over an open fire for you to try! Many of the shops give out free Christmas cookies, coffee, and other goodies, so come hungry.
Children will love viewing lit-up Christmas floats during the nighttime Parade of Lights. There are also plenty of events for buying gifts like Shop ‘Til You Drop, Small Business Saturday, and the Shopping Jam.
Do you love to look at snow but hate walking on ice? That’s not a problem with Holland’s incredible snowmelt system. The cobblestone sidewalks in Downtown Holland are free of ice so you can walk to your heart's content.
A bit further down Eighth Street, you’ll run into Kerstmarkt, which is an outdoor Christmas market. Sellers have booths filled with holiday treats, homemade wares, and fresh winter wreaths.
Close by the Kerstmark is the historic Cappon house, which was the home of Holland’s first mayor. The home is now a museum and hosts a unique Victorian Christmas event with old-fashioned crafts, caroling, and hot chocolate.
If you want to take a brisk winter walk, you’ll love the Hope College campus right by Downtown Holland. The college was established in 1851, and the campus has 125 acres of gorgeous architecture and great big trees.
To see a current event calendar check out the Holland, Michigan website. You might think you can’t possibly beat the magical atmosphere of Holland during the holiday season. Then you’ll be surprised to hear that it’s most famous for the Tulip Time Festival. Whether you visit for the snow or the flowers, Holland is a must-see destination. Have you been to Holland before? We would love to hear what you thought of your visit!
Address: Holland, MI 49423, USA
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Michigan In Your Inbox
Thank you! You will receive your first email soon.
Emily Tieman is a lifelong Michigander and has a love for locally owned small businesses. She is a freelance writer for Only In Your State and has her own vintage content creator business.
