Don’ miss your chance to see the Michigan Moonwalker in action tomorrow night at the Downtown Holland Street Performer Series 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 15. The Street Performer Series celebrates 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.
Back in 2016, Jake Thompson aka the Michigan Moonwalker, first heard Michael Jackson’s hit, “Smooth Criminal” and became fascinated with the singer. Jake not only thought the song was captivating, but he also became captivated by Jackson’s dance moves. As soon as Jake saw the 45-degree angle lean, he was hooked. Ever since then, he would come home from school, finish his homework, and study Michael Jackson’s moves from old concerts and videos until he perfected his routine for audiences. This year will be Thompson’s fourth year performing as a Jackson impersonator in the Series.
“It’s very fun to perform on the streets of Holland!” said Thompson, “I love being able to share my talents with the City of Holland and watching the other performers too.” So, tomorrow night, travel back in time with Michigan Moonwalker to 1988 and watch his performance inspired by Michael Jackson’s BAD World Tour, with hits like “Rock With You,” “Thriller,” “Wanna Be Starting Somethin’,” and many more!
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.
Gentex Street Performer Series Performer Line-Up for August 1
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.
Alma’s Splash of Color
Alma Sanchez has been face painting for the past two years at birthday parties, festivals, and community events. She is excited to return to the Gentex Street Performer Series and face painting on Thursday nights this summer! Alma uses FDA approved paints and glitters.
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! Sadie has a passion for art and 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!
Brethren
Musicians Ben Barnes, Adam Davidson, Aaron Cole, and Zac Davidson have been performing in church basements, outdoor events, corporate parties, and more for over 20 years. Their mix of classic rock, folk, and standards bring a little nostalgia and fun to any gathering!
Cassandra Lybrink
Cassandra Lybrink is a member of the Holland Chorale and an editor with The Holland Sentinel. She has been playing and writing music for over 20 years, and her set includes favorites from genres ranging from country to modern pop. When she is not making music or working on the local paper, she can be found enjoying her free time with her husband and son.
Debbie DeRienzo
Debbie DeRienzo is a singer/songwriter that discovered her love of music at a young age. After joining the military in 1999, she found singing and playing her guitar to be a comfort for her and many others. She has been a worship leader since 2000, playing at various churches around the world and weekly at her home church. In 2018 Debbie began pursuing songwriting and in 2020, she released her first single,
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.
Flow Like Water
Flow Like Water is break dancing crew that performs regularly at festivals and events throughout West Michigan, bringing the crowd to their feet wherever they go. Their high energy and hip-hop beats are only matched by their amazing dance skills. This highly captivating performance crew seeks to connect within the community through the world of dance.
Gooder’n Grits
Gooder’n Grits is an old-time string band that is inspired by the centuries old fiddle tunes of the upper south. The band is made up of Glenn and Julie Warners and Bob Hudson and Shelley Hudson, who have been playing “mountain music” on the banjo, fiddle, and guitar together for more than 15 years.
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 passions 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.
Henna by Jahara
Jahara Begum has been a Street Performer in Downtown Holland since the beginning of the Gentex Street Performer Series. She is a highly skilled and experienced henna artist who uses all natural ingredients that are safe for the skin. Her designs never fail to impress her fans of all ages!
Holland Art Memories
By day, Brandon Byrd teaches homeroom and high school Spanish at Calvary Schools of Holland, but in his free time, you can find him creating artwork through landscape and scenery masterpieces. Brandon creates various scenes from all throughout Holland using oil and chalk pastels, charcoal, ink, and pencil. He donates the proceeds from the sale of his pieces to Calvary Schools.
Isabel Noguera
Singer-songwriter Isabel Noguera has been street performing since she was ten years old. She’s performed at many local open mic nights at the Saugatuck Brewing Company and the Guardian Brewing Company and around the streets of South Haven and Saugatuck. She sings all her own original music and recently produced an album.
Jlotheartist
Musician Jeanette Locher plays the Native flute and the steel tongue drum and enjoys playing music from the heart. She previously has played music just for herself but is excited to make her Street Performing debut at the Gentex Street Performer Series and the Holland Farmers Market 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 high school theatre productions. He also serves as an emcee for assemblies, local talent shows, and high school games. At the Series, he will be performing covers from popular artists from the 60’s to today.
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.
Nick May is Fire
Nick May is a spectacular performer with over 12 years of experience performing with fire. He blends dance, theatrics, and music together to bring his performances to soaring heights of awe-inspiring grace and professionalism. Nick specializes in breath-taking, extraordinary, and multi-talented fire performances.
Noah Leyrer and Thomas Tran
Saxophone musicians Noah Leyrer and Thomas Tran met in 2023 through the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra High School Solo Competition and have been friends ever since! They not only enjoy playing jazz music together, but also watching other musicians perform too.
Silverado Band
West Michigan natives Harold Woodrum, Tom Bourne, and Mackenzie Woodring make up the Silverado Band. They play a wide variety of music including polkas, waltzes, and line dances that are sure to entertain a crowd at a wedding, bar, private parties…and at the Gentex Street Performer Series!
The Balloon Guy
Jim Perry "The Balloon Guy" has been entertaining children of all ages with his remarkable balloon twisting skills for more than 40 years. He is a graduate of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and travelled the country for four years with different circuses. He has participated in the Street Performer Series since 2016.
The NIGHT CAPS
Formed in 2017, musicians Jason George, York Adams, and Jim Bob Ewing make up the three-piece rockabilly band, The NIGHT CAPS. Prepare to have a great time dancing and singing with them as they play American roots music including rock, blues, country, jazz and more with their own unique rockabilly sound!
Third Class 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.
