HOLLAND, Mich. -- You can view hundreds of handcrafted items from more than 40 vendors on weekends now through Dec. 21 at the Holland Friends of Art Kerstmarkt.
The 27th annual event began in 1997 with only 10 booths. The Marketplace is set up outside of the Holland Civic Center Place on West 8th Street. The Kerstmarkt is open on weekends only through December 21.
There will be a live Hand Bell Concert Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday, there will be dog sled demonstrations from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Here is more information from a City of Holland news release:
Starting in 1997 with just 10 booths, the Kerstmarkt is proud to have grown into a beloved annual holiday event going into its 27th season with 25 booths to shop from during each visit! The 2024 Kerstmarkt season will run weekends only with varying hours from Saturday, November 23 – Saturday, December 21.
Set up in the Marketplace outside of the Holland Civic Center Place (150 West 8th Street, Holland, MI 49423), shoppers can find 25 European style wooden booths, beautifully decorated for the holiday season, with local West Michigan vendors fully stocked up on goods that will be perfect to gift to everyone on your holiday gift giving list this season. You may even find a few items for yourself!
In addition to a wide variety of handcrafted goods, shoppers can also enjoy authentic Dutch foods that will be available for purchase, with traditional holiday glühwein, or hot mulled wine, available for guests 21 and older. When purchasing hot drinks such as glühwein, hot cocoa, or coffee, visitors will also have an opportunity to receive their beverages in a souvenir mug, that can only be purchased at the Kerstmarkt for the 2024 season! Quantities are limited, so be sure to grab yours as soon as you arrive!
If you are looking for even more holiday fun, shopping unique and handcrafted items and delicious food isn’t all you’ll find at the Holland Kerstmarkt! Every weekend is sure to be a new experience with several rotating vendors, special events, special guests, and more! Enjoy dog sled demonstrations, meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, listen to holiday carolers, enjoy the sounds of traditional handbell concerts, and even meet Sinterklaas (the Dutch Santa Claus) all while shopping for the perfect gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
This weekend, Kerstmarkt goers can enjoy the sounds of holiday music during a live Hand Bell Concert on Friday, November 29 from 5pm – 7pm performed by professional musicians, Larry and Carla. Saturday shoppers can also enjoy live dog sled demonstrations from 1:30pm – 3:30pm after the Holland Farmers Market closes for the day. Enjoy professional sled dogs showing off their top speeds at the Kerstmarkt, and even meet the dogs between demonstrations!
The Kerstmarkt and special events are free to attend with free on-site parking and is located right at the end of Downtown Holland’s beautiful 8th street, where you can stroll up and down to enjoy the beautifully lit holiday atmosphere. We encourage those to make a weekend trip to Holland, Michigan to not only enjoy the Kerstmarkt, but to soak up the holiday cheer and other winter festivities, too!
Vendors of the Holland Kerstmarkt are proud to share customers have shopped the Kerstmarkt from all over the world, checking into the guest book that can be found inside the Warming Booth each market day. Don’t just take it from us how wonderful the Kerstmarkt is, for several years in a row, happy Kerstmarkt shoppers have voted the Holland Kerstmarkt into the top 10 winners of the USA Today Reader’s Choice Poll of the 10Best Holiday Markets in all of the United States!
The Kerstmarkt is open on weekends only November 23 – December 21. For more details on the 2024 Kerstmarkt season, hours, and other upcoming special events, visit www.kerstmarktholland.org and follow us on Facebook at Kerstmarkt-Holland, and on Instagram at kerstmarktholland. We can’t wait to serve you this holiday season!
Upcoming Kerstmarkt Dates and Special Events:
Friday, November 29 – 11am – 8pm Hand Bell Concert - 5pm – 7pm
Saturday, November 30 – 9am – 6pm Dog Sled Demonstrations – 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Friday, December 6 – 3pm – 8pm Sinterklaas Visit – 3pm – 4:30pm Dickens Carolers – 5pm – 7pm
Saturday, December 7 – 9am – 6pm Dog Sled Demonstrations – 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Friday, December 13 – 3pm – 8pm Mr & Mrs. Claus Visit – 3pm – 5pm Dickens Carolers 5pm – 7pm
Saturday, December 14 – 9am – 6pm Mr & Mrs Claus Visit – 3pm – 5pm
Friday, December 20 – 3pm – 8pm Mr & Mrs Claus Visit – 3pm – 5pm Dickens Carolers – 5pm – 7pm
Saturday, December 21 – 9am – 6pm Mr & Mrs Claus Visit – 3pm – 5pm
Kerstmarkt Vendors on Friday, November 29 & Saturday, November 30, 2024:
1: Osman’s Flowers & Firs 2: Wooden Toys & Boxes 3: Marguerite’s 4: Two Bears Trading 5: Autumn’s Harvest 6: 1932 Naturals (Different every weekend!) 7: Cadz Creations 8: Happy Little Whales (Different every weekend!) 9: Bear Clan Forge 10: Puddingstone 11: Bubs’ and Betty’s (Different every weekend!) 12: Little Orange Scooter 13: Crepes by the Lakes 14: Shady Side Farm 15: Gatehouse Collection (Different every weekend!) 16: Marzec Chocolates 17: Flagel’s Sugar House 18: Gluhwein & Coffee 19: The Poppy Peach 20: St Steve’s Cordials 21: The Nativity (Different every weekend!) 22: Shore Gems (Different every weekend!) 23: Wilder Creek Workshop 24: Writesmiths 25: The Beard & The Gal
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About the Holland Kerstmarkt: The Kerstmarkt history began with a dream. The Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau envisioned a new way to experience the award-winning downtown in its most magical season: Christmas! In keeping with Holland!s Dutch heritage, they researched European Christmas markets, and a sponsor funded an exploratory excursion to Europe during the holidays. When representatives returned, they were both enthusiastic about building such a market and had the booth blueprints needed to do so. The Holland Friends of Art Kerstmarkt was born. In 1997, the first Kerstmarkt had just 10 booths. Today it is an annual event at the 8th Street Market Place and has grown to 25 booths