HOLLAND, MI – The Holland Friends of Art is gearing up for its anticipated outdoor European-style Christmas market in downtown Holland.
The 26th annual Kerstmarkt will take place at the 8th Street Marketplace, 150 W. 8th St., where visitors will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season.
Starting Nov. 18 through Dec. 16, there will be 21 vendors offering handcrafted gifts each weekend, as well as traditional holiday glühwein and authentic Dutch foods available for purchase.
The market will feature special events through December, including handbell concerts, dog sled visits, Dickens Carolers, Sinterklaas visits, and a meet and greet with Santa Claus.
Lona Bronkema, an organizer of Kerstmarkt and owner of Shady Side Farm, said people come back year after year for a unique shopping experience.
“We curate the vendors to make sure that they are all locally produced and handcrafted goods,” Bronkema told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. “Yes, you can buy from Amazon or you can choose a different path that has an impact on the local economy.”
Vendors report customers visiting from across the United States and other countries to Holland Friends of Art’s Kerstmarkt. In 2022, it placed ninth in the USA Today Readers Choice Poll of the 10 Best Holiday Markets, according to organizers.
When the first Kerstmarkt launched in 1997, it had just 10 booths. Today, it is a community-treasured event that has doubled in size.
Keep scrolling to see the open market dates and times.
- Saturday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 24, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 25, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 1, 3-8 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 8, 3-8 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 9, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 15, 3-8 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec.16, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“This is a big show for so many small businesses but there’s also that joy of finding just the right unique gift or something that will help celebrate your holiday,” Bronkema said. “So many of our visitors are first-timers and now it’s part of their holiday tradition.”
The event is free and open to the public. Learn more and see the full schedule here.
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