HOLLAND, MI — Over 80 floats decked out for the holidays snaked through downtown Holland for the annual Parade of Lights.
The floats dazzled thousands of onlookers with colorful holiday lights. A variety of Christmas tunes played as floats, commercial vehicles, walkers and marching bands from Holland and West Ottawa high schools took to Eighth Street.
The festive parade sponsored by Gentex Corporation featured thousands of lights and wrapped up with Sinterklaas greeting the crowd from a sleigh pulled by sparkling reindeer.
The parade ended at Holland Civic Center Place, 150 W. Eighth St., home of the Holiday Kerstmarkt.
MLive/Grand Rapids Press photojournalist Joel Bissell was there to capture the event. Check out the full gallery above or click here.
The national magazine rounded up 10 European-style Christmas markets to visit across the country and Holland’s annual event got a nod for its traditional food and artisan demonstrations.
The Kerstmarkt is located at the corner of Eighth Street and Pine Avenue, where the city’s farmers market is still setting up shop on Saturdays in the winter.
USA Today readers voted Kerstmarkt into the top 10 for best Christmas markets in 2023, and the Holland market is back on the ballot this winter.
Holland opened a new ice rink this year at the edge of Window on the Waterfront Park at the corner of 6th Street and Central Avenue. The winter park will be open for skaters, curlers and those seeking hot cocoa.
From downtown shopping to Windmill Island displays, find more Holland holiday events here.