If you’ve never experienced the magic of Downtown Holland during the holiday season, this is the one night you won’t want to miss! This Saturday, November 18, over 60 shops and restaurants will open their doors from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm for the annual Downtown Holland Holiday Open House. During the Holiday Open House, residents and visitors alike are invited to stroll the beautifully decorated and brightly lit heated streets while shopping for holiday gifts for everyone on your list! Shops and restaurants will be welcoming customers with a number of holiday promotions, including free gift wrapping, complimentary holiday refreshments, merchandise discounts, and fun giveaways during this popular event! The event also features appearances by Santa and his favorite elf, a reindeer petting corral, strolling carolers, chestnut roasting, and the Snowflake Express Trolley. The Holiday Open House is proudly sponsored by Greenridge Realty Holland. “Greenridge Realty Holland is proud to be the sole sponsor of the Downtown Holland Holiday Open House,” said Dean Kreps, Managing Associate Broker at Greenridge Realty Holland. “We care about supporting the communities in which we live and work. We are so grateful to be a part of our vibrant downtown area. Holland is such a special place, and this time of year makes it even better. Greenridge Realty is a family-owned company that has been providing real estate services to West Michigan for over 40 years. We take great pride in partnering with the City of Holland and are proud of the work we accomplish here together.” The heated streets of Downtown Holland will be decorated for the Holiday Open House with thousands of twinkling holiday lights, a brightly lit Christmas tree, and custom designed urn planters installed by the City’s Parks Department. The Holland Chorale’s costume Dickens Carolers will be strolling throughout Downtown Holland singing Christmas carols during the event, in addition to carolers from Central Wesleyan Church and Ventura Baptist Church. Staff and volunteers from Downtown Holland will also be roasting fresh chestnuts outside of GDK Park on 8th Street. Everyone is invited to stop by for a free sample of a traditional taste of the holidays! Santa can also be spotted strolling during the Holiday Open House, greetings fans young and old alike and posing for photographs. And be sure to keep an eye up (yes, up) for one of Santa’s stilt-walking elves! Santa’s reindeer will here too, located in a petting corral in Musician’s Park on Central Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets. The Snowflake Express Trolley is also returning this year, offering attendees a free tour of 8th Street during the Holiday Open House! Just hop on and off at the Splash Pad next to the Courtyard Marriott Hotel. The team from Greenridge Realty will also be downtown during the Holiday Open House spreading holiday cheer by passing out fun giveaways to attendees while supplies last. Downtown Holland Holiday Open House Participating Businesses: Anna Interiors Apothecary Gift Shop Blu Veranda Borrs Shoes & Accessories Bowerman's on 8th Brick + Ivy Market Canterbury Cottage Interiors Carolyn Stich Studio Cherry Republic Cotton Bay Crane's In The City Downtown Antiques & Home Furnishings Dutch Village Downtown Estella Rose Fashion Family Central FatFace Frances Jaye Fris Supply Shop Fustini's Garsnett Beacon Candle Co. Gazelle Sports Gezellig Home & Garden Glik’s Boutique Glik’s Men’s Harbor Wear of Holland Holland Peanut Store HOM by Benchmark jb and me Jean Marie's Kilwin's Laurel & Jack Le Bon Macaron Lokers Shoes New Holland Onalee’s Peachwave Frozen Yogurt & Gelato Postcards From Paradise Pretties Intimate Apparel Reader's World Sea Bags LLC Seedlings Silver Fox II Jewelry, LLC Spring Sweet Studio K Clothing Co. The Bridge The Flower House Holland The Outpost of Holland The Poppy Peach, LLC The Seasoned Home TIKAL Tin Ceiling Tip Toes Warner Vineyards Waverly Stone White House Black Market Be Sure to Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Holiday Events in Downtown Holland! Small Business Saturday Saturday, November 25[ Downtown Holland will join communities throughout the country in celebrating Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 25! Our shops and restaurants want to thank you for shopping small this holiday season and for supporting us all year long with a day packed full of giveaways, discounts, and lots of fun promotions! Be sure to enter our annual Small Business Saturday Selfie Contest too! Just snap a photograph of yourself shopping in Downtown Holland on Saturday, November 25 and share it on our Facebook page for a chance to win a $100 gift card to your favorite Downtown Holland business. The winner will be announced on Monday, November 27. Parade of Lights Tuesday, November 28 6:30 pm Santa Claus arrives in Downtown Holland during the Parade of Lights, escorted by 90 floats, commercial vehicles, walkers, and marching bands...all decked out from top to bottom in thousands of sparkling lights! Come see why this brightly lit holiday procession on Tuesday, November 28 is fun for the entire                                 family and a holiday tradition for the entire community. The Parade of Lights will begin at the corner of 8th Street and Columbia Avenue at 6:30 pm sharp and proceed west down 8th Street until it reaches the Holland Civic Center Place at 150 West 8th Street, home of the Holiday Kerstmarkt! The Parade of Lights is proudly sponsored by Gentex Corporation. Be sure to look for them as they lead the parade with a special treat for all of the children in attendance! (Please note that there will be no other candy out during the parade.) Strolling Santa Fridays, December 1 – 22 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Heading to Downtown Holland to do a little holiday shopping this season? Be sure to keep your eye out for the one and only Santa! Downtown Holland’s very own Santa Claus will be strolling 8th Street every Friday night in December to greet customers, pose for photographs, and bring a little magic to your holiday shopping experience. Be sure to say hello if you spot Santa out doing a little local shopping (or dining) of his own from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on December 1, 8, 15 and 22! Up on the Rooftops (Low Ticket Alert!)                                                                                                                                                 Friday, December 15 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm After a three-year hiatus, one of Downtown Holland’s most highly anticipated holiday events is slated to return in 2023! Up on the Rooftops, a holiday tradition for hundreds in the community, will return on Friday, December 15 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. As part of the event, ticket holders are given exclusive access to tour private condos and apartments, office spaces, and art studios on the upper floors of historic buildings throughout Downtown Holland. Tickets for this highly anticipated event are just $45 each and go on sale online at www.upontherooftops.com on Friday, November 10. This year's tour features ten locations, including a mix of residences and upper floor businesses. The $45 ticket price also includes a light appetizer and dessert reception in the beautifully remodeled Haworth Hotel ballroom. Soft drinks and coffee are included, with beer and wine available for purchase. Up on the Rooftops is proudly sponsored by Zeigler of Holland. Shopping Jam Saturday, December 16 8:00 am – 10:00 am The early bird gets the...deals at the annual Downtown Holland Shopping Jam! Set your alarm clocks and grab a cup of hot coffee because this is one holiday savings event you won't want to miss! As part of the Shopping Jam on Saturday, December 16, participating businesses will open their doors early, offering 30% off at least one item from 8:00 am - 9:00 am and 25% off at least one item from 9:00 am - 10:00 am! Whether you're just starting your holiday shopping, you need one more gift to finish off your nice list, or you're shopping for something special for yourself, this is one sale you won't want to miss. It’s the perfect opportunity to “wrap up” your holiday shopping while enjoying amazing discounts!