When you think of an old-fashioned Christmas, you might picture falling snow, a warm fire, and chestnuts roasting over an open fire. While you might imagine that that that’s just an image from Christmas carols, you’ll be glad to know it’s real right here in our state! You’ll find all that and more when you experience Christmas in Holland, Michigan. It’s a lovely, picturesque town that is a great place to celebrate the holidays! Whether it’s your first time or you’ve come in the winter season for years, you will be thrilled by the festive fun here.

Holland, Michigan is right on the shores of Lake Michigan, which dumps beautiful lake-effect snow all over the town. Majestic Big Red Lighthouse stands tall at Holland State Park and is lovely to view, even in the colder months. You will want to pack a warm coat, hat, and gloves when you visit this winter wonderland.
Old-Fashioned Christmas Holland, Michigan
dpenn/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
The crown jewel of a Holland, Michigan Christmas is the charming downtown that runs down Eighth Street. There are so many Christmas events that you can find something to do every weekend!
Emily Tieman for OIYS
Downtown Holland’s Christmas events include the Holiday Open House where all the shops unveil seasonal decorations and offer sales. You’ll find Santa Claus strolling through town and even free chestnuts roasting over an open fire for you to try! Many of the shops give out free Christmas cookies, coffee, and other goodies, so come hungry.
Downtown Antiques & Home Furnishings/Facebook
Children will love viewing lit-up Christmas floats during the nighttime Parade of Lights. There are also plenty of events for buying gifts like Shop ‘Til You Drop, Small Business Saturday, and the Shopping Jam.
Holland

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Do you love to look at snow but hate walking on ice? That’s not a problem with Holland’s incredible snowmelt system. The cobblestone sidewalks in Downtown Holland are free of ice so you can walk to your heart's content.
Emily Tieman for OIYS
A bit further down Eighth Street, you’ll run into Kerstmarkt, which is an outdoor Christmas market. Sellers have booths filled with holiday treats, homemade wares, and fresh winter wreaths.
Downtown Holland/Facebook
Close by the Kerstmark is the historic Cappon house, which was the home of Holland’s first mayor. The home is now a museum and hosts a unique Victorian Christmas event with old-fashioned crafts, caroling, and hot chocolate.
Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
If you want to take a brisk winter walk, you’ll love the Hope College campus right by Downtown Holland. The college was established in 1851, and the campus has 125 acres of gorgeous architecture and great big trees.
Hope College/Google

Have you gotten to experience this sweet old-fashioned Christmas in Michigan? You might think you can’t possibly beat the magical atmosphere of Holland during the holiday season. Then you’ll be surprised to hear that it’s most famous for the Tulip Time Festival. Whether you visit for the snow or the flowers, Holland is a must-see destination. What is your favorite time of year to visit Holland? We would love to hear what you thought of your visit! And if you’re planning your holidays now, take a look at the helpful OnlyInYourState Holiday Gift Guides.

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