The Gentex Street Performer Series returns to Downtown Holland this week Thursday, July 11 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm featuring hula hoop dancer Lori Lundell, also known as Madam Mandala. The entire  community is invited to experience the sights and sounds as 25 different performing artists and groups from  every background perform free for the public all along 8th Street every Thursday evening through August 15.  The Street Performer Series will celebrate 20 years this summer with an exciting line-up of nearly 100 rotating performers throughout the summer, including musicians, jugglers, balloon twisters, break dancers,  henna tattoo artists, and more. The 2024 Street Performer Series is proudly sponsored by Gentex  Corporation in celebration of their 50th Anniversary, with support from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.  

Lundell is a hula hoop dancer from North Muskegon who incorporates multiple hula hoops and popular  songs into her act, often dressing up in fun costumes to elevate her routine. Lundell had been admiring the  art of hula hoop dancers for years, and when her niece bought her a hoop for her birthday as a surprise, she  decided to try it out. When performing, Lundell often gets asked “How did you do that?” Her response is  always, “With lots of practice!” Lundell believes that you can do almost anything you put your heart to if you  put in the time. “Anyone, of any age, can learn new things if you simply make the time,” said Lundell. 

This will be Lori’s second year performing at the Gentex Street Performer Series and she is excited to return  to the place where she first ever performed her hula hoop routine for a large audience. She loves performing  for people of all ages and seeing the joy her act bring. “Young and old, everyone is at the Street Performer  Series for a fun time,” said Lundell.  

Event attendees should note that 8th Street will be closed to thru traffic and parking from Columbia Avenue  to River Avenue from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm on Thursday nights to accommodate the crowd. Free public parking  for the event is available in the surface lots on 7th and 9th Streets, in the 7th and 9th Street Parking Decks  and at the Holland Civic Center Place. And don’t forget that the Series is free to attend, but tipping the  performers is customary.  

The Downtown Holland Social District is also open during the Street Performer Series, meaning that patrons  ages 21+ can purchase alcoholic beverages at one of nearly 20 different participating establishment to enjoy  while strolling throughout Downtown Holland during the event. For a list of participating establishments, the  social district regulations, and the district boundaries, please visit www.downtownsocialdistrict.com. 

Street Performer Series Performer Line-Up for July 11 

Acoustic Fun Rock 

Musicians Albert Gemmen, Jamison Worst, and Lindsey Burton have been playing in coffee shops and other  venues around West Michigan for several years together. They perform original songs as well as cover  music by artists Jack Johnson, Johnny Cash, The Neighbors, and more. This will be their third year  performing in the Series, and they are excited to provide lighthearted acoustic fun rock for the whole family! 

Allison Ann 

Allison Eding is a worship leader currently attending Western Theological Seminary for her Master of Divinity.  She was raised on classic rock and enjoys arranging her dad’s favorite songs and today’s hits with her own  folk music twist. 

Balloon Twisting by Sadie 

Sadie Laarman is a 10th grade student at Zeeland East High School. Sadie learned how to twist balloon  animals in 6th grade and has loved them ever since! With a passion for art, Sadie is involved in many art  programs through school. She is excited to make her Gentex Street Performer Series debut this summer! 

Be Airbrushing 

Libby Geurink is a high school math teacher by day, who started an airbrush tattoo business to combine her  love for being creative with her love of interacting with people! She can airbrush a wide variety of colorful  designs on the skin, which is always popular with kids at festivals and events! 

Dan Baker 

Dan Baker has been playing the saxophone for 40 years and resides in Grand Rapids with his family. He has  played as a street performer in Holland, Grand Rapids, and Ludington. Dan has participated in jazz combos  and jam sessions, is a member of the Forest Hills Adult Community Band, and volunteers as a bedside  musician for Faith Hospice. 

Dan Mutschler

Dan Mutschler is a self-taught and talented balloon artist who performs regularly at birthday parties, scouting  events, art fairs, and fundraisers. He has over 18 years of experience twisting balloons and is constantly  learning new designs to share with young and old alike, including popular characters, animals, and more! 

Detachable Emotions 

Sean Halloway is a singer-songwriter with a long history in music. Detachable Emotions takes the belief that  music can express and touch people’s hearts; each original song is rooted in a deep feeling that has been  pulled from himself, removed from his insides, and placed into the music world. Whether the songs are  original, covered, or improvised, there is always space to take and utilize your Detachable Emotions. 

Emma Sullivan 

Musician Emma Sullivan has enjoyed classical music throughout her entire life, and received her bachelor’s  in music from Drake University, and her master’s in music from the University of Delaware, both focused in  Cello Performance. Throughout her musical education, she has had the privilege of performing in master  classes with musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, Zlatomir Fung, and Matt Haimovitz. 

Floor Fienz 

Floor Fienz is a break-dancing group that has been performing together for over 10 years in the Gentex  Street Performer Series and at fundraisers, car shows, grand openings, and birthday parties. They keep the  crowd entertained with their explosive dance moves and high energy beats. Floor Fienz is currently  partnering with Escape Ministries to grow a breakdancing class where you can learn their moves, too! 

Giggles and Chuckles 

Giggles and Chuckles, aka Lia McCormick and Chau Le-Tran, have over 10 years of experience twisting  balloons into hundreds of shapes, including flowers, animals, helicopters, wands, swords and more. They have performed at over 1,000 children’s events, in addition to performing regularly at the Street Performers  Series and the Holland Farmers Market. 

Hannah and Ali Music 

Hannah Kok and Ali Podjan are recent high school graduates who love creating music together and sharing  their passion for performing with audiences everywhere. Ali has been playing guitar for six years, and they  have both been singing for as long as they can remember. 

Henna by Anna 

Anna Hoskins is a full-time artist who holds both a BFA and MFA in drawing from Kendall College of Art and  Design. While she enjoys working in her studio, she loves to combine her passion for art and meeting people  by drawing henna tattoos at parties and events. She has been participating in the Gentex Street Performer  Series for the last 15 years. 

Kaylie McConnell 

Kaylie McConnell is a Street Performer Series regular for the past decade who wows audiences with her  electric violin and loop system, which she uses to play everything from classical music to popular hits. She  has over a decade of experience as a classical violinist and began playing the electric violin seven years  ago. When not performing, she can be found on the softball field or working at GE Aerospace. 

Lia Weiss-Gelmi 

Lia Weiss-Gelmi is a 19-year-old student at Central Michigan University who has been playing piano and  singing since the age of three and has been performing at the Gentex Street Performer Series since she was  nine. Through practice and performance, music is what she loves to do most. At CMU she is majoring in  commercial music and is the music director of one of CMU’s a cappella groups, On The Rox! 

Liv for Henna 

Alivia Apol is a 16-year-old who has loved all forms of art her entire life and has recently started learning and  perfecting her henna art skills! Though she has applied henna tattoos at birthday parties and other events,  she is excited to share her talents with Downtown Holland for the first time as a part of the Gentex Street  Performer Series! 

Maddy Grace 

Maddy Kok is a local college student who has been singing for as long as she can remember and has been  performing publicly for the last nine years. She taught herself guitar when she was just 11 years old and  began performing publicly in middle school. She has a passion for sharing her music with audiences at  church, school, and on the streets of Downtown Holland. 

M. Brooks & Larissa Brooks 

Husband and wife duo M. and Larissa Brooks perform a broad range of music, including pop, rock, indie,  folk, and classical. Larissa is a classically trained violinist who has performed with the likes of The Who and  Sarah McLaughlin, while M. Brooks is a singer/songwriter with two albums to his name. 

Michigan Moonwalker 

Jake Thompson has been dancing like Michael Jackson since 2016, when he first saw a video of Jackson  performing “Smooth Criminal” live. Jacob has performed at high school talent shows and other special  events and is excited to show off his skills at the Series for the fourth summer in a row.  

Peach Jam 

Dani and Lainey Canan, Shayna Gibson, Jack Waalkes, and Charis Snyder are just a few college students  from Zeeland who love making music together and performing for the public! They are excited to be a part of  the Gentex Street Performer Series for a third year in a row together as a group. 

Steel Doin’ It

Steel Doin’ It is a steel drum band that formed in 2002 through a community class offered through Muskegon  Community College. They are based in the Grand Haven/Spring Lake area with their oldest member in her  mid-eighties! They play in the band for the fun of playing Caribbean music with friends and sharing this fun,  tropical sound with others. 

Suits & Ties 

Suits & Ties is a saxophone duet comprised of Evan Talsma and Joshua Bush. They have both been playing  the saxophone for over six years and are always looking for ways to bring joy to their audience through  music. They mix the unique sound of the saxophone with popular music from well-known artists, movies, TV  shows and more that people know and love! 

Tarnished Brass 

The Tarnished Brass band is a full brass band made up of Randy Bremer, Linda Cole, Bruce Cooke, Steve  Huizenga, Andy Loree, and Dan VanMalsen. They perform both popular and sacred music regularly at  festivals, local churches, and neighborhood care homes throughout Southwest Michigan. They have  performed as part of the Gentex Street Performer Series since 2016. 

ClassThird Flynn

Third Class Flynn is an Irish music busking duo, comprised of husband-and-wife Ray and Cindy Veen.  Dressed as the characters Michael and Mary Flynn, Irish immigrants from the late 1800's, the Flynn's tell  their story through the music of Ireland: folk tunes, dance tunes, pub tunes, laments and more. 

Tyde Glass 

Raymond Quintero is a local glass blower who has a love for marbles! He grew up playing marbles with his  friends and family and has had a passion for ‘marble hunting’ and finding unique marbles ever since. He  loves that each handmade marble is unique and one of a kind. Find him at the Gentex Street Performer  Series creating marbles right in front of you this summer!