The 2025 Gentex Street Performer Series continues in Downtown Holland this week Thursday,  June 19 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm! 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 14. The Street Performer Series features an exciting line-up of over  75 rotating performers throughout the summer, including musicians, jugglers, balloon twisters, caricature  artists, break dancers, henna tattoo artists, and more. The 2025 Street Performer Series is proudly  sponsored by Gentex Corporation, with additional funding support provided by the Michigan Arts and Culture  Council.  

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 while the Series is free to attend, tipping the  performers is customary, as the Series is a traditional busking event. 

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 June 19 

Balloon Twisters 

Balloons by Sarah 

Sarah Franklin discovered her love for balloon twisting while planning her son’s seventh birthday party, and it  quickly became a fun family hobby. She began performing at church and community events to bring smiles  to kids’ faces. Sarah is excited to share her talents and spread joy as part of the Street Performers Series for  the first time this summer! 

Steve’s Twisted Balloons 

Steve Tamayo is a dad to two beautiful daughters and the owner of Steve’s Twisted Balloons. He began  twisting balloons for family and friends at birthday parties just over four years ago and launched his public  balloon-twisting career right here at the Gentex Street Performer Series. He’s excited to return this year and  continue bringing smiles and fun to Downtown Holland!

Dancers 

Floor Fienz 

Floor Fienz is a breakdancing group that has been performing together for over a decade at the Series and  at fundraisers, car shows, and birthday parties. They keep the crowd entertained with their explosive dance  moves and high-energy beats. Their passion for dance and commitment to inspiring the next generation  continues to energize every performance. 

Lisa Bullis-Dennen 

Lisa has been a student and performer of Arab dance for over 20 years. Her goal is to present an authentic  and emotionally rich experience. Lisa lives part-time in Egypt, immersed in the rich history and culture. Her  daily experiences adapting to another way of life show up in her dancing, from their improvisational nature to  connecting with the audience and music. 

Graphic Artists 

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 reunions, birthday parties, weddings and more! She has participated in the  Street Performer Series for the last 15 years. 

Liv for Henna 

Alivia Apol is a 16-year-old artist with a passion for creativity, recently focusing her talents on the intricate art  of henna. She has already gained experience applying henna designs at birthday parties and community  events and is excited to return to Downtown Holland for her second year as part of the Gentex Street  Performer Series! 

Musicians 

Aliyah Visser 

Aliyah Visser is a 19-year-old music enthusiast who just completed her freshman year as a Music Therapy  major at the University of Kansas. She is a talented pianist with a deep love for creating music and is excited  to begin releasing her original songs starting this summer. This will be her first summer at the Gentex Street  Performer Series.  

Arlo Crandell 

Arlo Crandell is a blues-rock guitarist who started playing guitar when he was eight and has been performing  bluegrass music with his family at various venues since then. When he was 13, he started playing blues  guitar, watching other artists like Stevie Ray Vaughn. Arlo was even invited onstage to play with the Texas  Tenors during their Tulip Time concert in 2024. 

Ben Bard 

Ben Bard is a solo performer with over a decade of string instrument experience. Inspired by the rich musical  traditions of North Africa, Turkey, and Central Asia, he has mastered instruments such as the Turkish  baglama, Arab oud, and most recently, the Afghan Kabuli rabab. Ben is passionate about sharing the beauty  and culture of these instruments with the community. 

Charlotte Beckman 

Charlotte Beckman is a 16-year-old violinist with a deep passion for music. She performs in multiple  ensembles, including various orchestras and bands, as well as performing as a soloist and as a member of a  string quartet. Charlotte hopes to pursue a career in music, with aspirations of becoming an orchestra  conductor in the future. 

Dan Baker 

Dan Baker, based in Grand Rapids, has enjoyed playing the saxophone for over 40 years. He has performed  at venues throughout West Michigan. In 2024, Dan participated in the Gentex Street Performer Series, 

2 

played the National Anthem for the West Michigan Whitecaps, and was a strolling musician at the  Christkindlmarkt at the Downtown Market in Grand Rapids.  

Delbert Walling and Haley Houtz 

Haley met Delbert when she was just a teenager taking guitar lessons. Haley’s vocal talent was evident then,  and after college when she returned to the area, they teamed up to create a powerful music duo. Delbert and  Haley have been playing together for 15 years now and perform a variety of music genres with powerful  vocals and guitar and unique arrangements.  

Emma Sullivan 

Emma Sullivan was immersed in classical music from a young age. She earned her bachelor’s in music  performance from Drake University and completed her master’s at the University of Delaware. She has  performed in master classes with renowned musicians like Yo-Yo Ma. Today, Emma is an active performer  with a passion for chamber music and teaching cello. 

Hannah & Ali Music 

Hannah Kok and Ali Podjan share a deep passion for creating and performing music together. Ali, who has  been playing guitar for seven years, is currently studying cosmetology, while Hannah is pursuing a marketing  degree at Calvin University. Both have been singing for as long as they can remember. They are excited to  return for another year at the Series. 

JLo the Artist 

Local musician Jeanette Locher plays the Native flute and enjoys making music from the heart. Jeanette  performers regularly at the Holland Farmers Market and is excited to perform for the Gentex Street  Performer Series for the second summer in a row! She is also an artist and crafter in her spare time.  

Lia Weiss-Gelmi 

Lia Weiss-Gelmi is a 20-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. She is majoring in commercial music at CMU and is currently the music director of one of CMU’s a  cappella groups, On The Rox! 

Maddy Grace 

Maddy Kok is a recent nursing graduate from Calvin University who has been passionate about music since  childhood, teaching herself guitar at 11 and performing publicly since middle school. She loves sharing her  music to create a fun, family-friendly atmosphere and bring joy to others at the Street Performer Series and  beyond.  

Mailyn Ivett Estefanía Vargas Narváez 

Mailyn Vargas is a 27-year-old music teacher and violinist with a deep passion for sharing her talent and love  of music with others. While she can be found performing regularly on 8th Street, she is excited make her  debut at the Gentex Street Performer Series this summer. 

Mark Cosgrove 

Mark Cosgrove is West Ottawa graduate who has been singing since he was just two years old. In addition  to singing in his school’s premier choir group, The Vocalaires, he has also performed as the lead in a number  of different high school theatre productions. At the Series, he will be performing covers from popular artists  from the 60’s to today.  

Monty and Crew 

Fueled by team spirit and hometown pride, Monty and Crew is a student-led band that includes musicians  Caleb Montgomery, Ryan Montgomery, Quinn Vanderkamp, Owen Graham, Levi King, and London  Bateman. Born out of Friday night lights and diamond dreams, they bring energy to every inning with classic  rock, stadium anthems, and surprise covers. 

3 

O'Malley's Cousins 

Musicians JD Gonzales and Andrew Veenstra-Banning lead O'Malley’s Cousins, a lively Grand Rapids based band born from strong friendships and a love of music. Blending Celtic, folk, and Americana with high energy performances, they bring the spirit of a family jam session to every stage. When the music starts,  everyone’s a cousin! 

Steph Gillett 

Stephanie Gillett is a longtime singer and performer who began singing at her church and soon expanded to  events like fundraisers, weddings, and other local venues. While she studied voice for many years, she  taught herself guitar too. This summer marks her 10th year as a street performer, a tradition that began in  high school and remains her favorite place to perform.  

The Gorby Family 

The Gorby Family includes musicians Deb and Bill, and their children Erin and Trevor Gorby. For the past  seven years, this musical family has shared a blend of folk, gospel, and traditional tunes wherever there's a  welcoming audience. Their versatile sets feature combinations of hammered dulcimer, fiddle, mandolin,  guitar, flute, and vocals. 

Other Performers 

Connor Scholten 

Connor Scholten first began yo-yoing as a young child in 1997, and he first performed for the public as part  of the first ever Street Performer Series in 2005. He has since worked full time as a yo-yo designer, coached  the top players in the world, and taught yo-yo to thousands of people online. He is also the 2017 and 2018  National Yo-Yo Contest Winner. 

Mat Emerick 

Dressed as a clown, Mat Emerick evokes great mimes like Charlie Chaplin, Marcel Marceau, and Red  Skelton in his act. With over 40 years of professional experience performing at festivals, schools, libraries,  and theatres, he brings smiles to all ages with his comedy and juggling skills.