Rally the corgi has sniffed out the Christmas events for kids in Holland for 2026. Santa rides into town at the Parade of Lights on Tuesday, December 1, Tulip Time’s Dutch Winterfest brings Sinterklaas the same week, the Kerstmarkt Christmas market runs Fridays and Saturdays, and Santa strolls downtown every Saturday in December. We check every date on the host’s own website and link straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Michigan Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Holland
- 4 Christmas events for kids in Holland
- Parade of Lights: Tuesday, December 1, 6:30 pm, 8th Street
- Dutch Winterfest: December 1 to 5
- Kerstmarkt: Fridays and Saturdays to December 19
- Strolling Santa: Saturdays, December 5, 12 and 19, 1 to 4 pm
What are you looking for?
All 4 events
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Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 3 more Holland events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Holland.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Holland before they fill up.
- Start your magical Christmas season now Every event appears the moment you enter your email.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
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Waiting inside
- 2 Santa
- 1 Lights
- 1 Parades
- 3 Free
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The Christmas magic awaits
Enter your email to get Christmas event notifications all season long and unlock the details on 3 Christmas events in Holland.
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Free Christmas events for kids in Holland
Lighted parade with SantaFree
Parade of Lights
- When: Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 6:30 pm
- Where: 8th Street, Downtown Holland (8th Street and Columbia Avenue to Holland Civic Center Place), Holland, MI 49423 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Santa Claus arrives in Downtown Holland escorted by about 90 floats, vehicles, walkers and marching bands, all covered in thousands of sparkling lights.
The parade starts at 8th Street and Columbia Avenue at 6:30 pm sharp and heads west to Holland Civic Center Place, with lead sponsor Gentex handing out a special treat for the kids.
Parent tip: 8th Street closes at 2 pm, so park free in the 7th or 9th Street lots or decks, and do not bring a candy bag since only the lead sponsor hands out treats.
- Host
- Downtown Holland (City of Holland) (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- 8th Street, Downtown Holland (8th Street and Columbia Avenue to Holland Civic Center Place), Holland, MI 49423 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Holland events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Holland daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Holland.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 3 more Holland events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Holland.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Holland before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 2 Santa
- 1 Lights
- 1 Parades
- 3 Free
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Holland every week.
Santa sightingsFree
Strolling Santa in Downtown Holland
- When: Saturdays, December 5, 12 and 19, 2026, 1 to 4 pm
- Where: Downtown Holland shops and restaurants, Holland, MI 49423 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Every Saturday afternoon in December, Santa wanders through Downtown Holland and pops into his favorite shops and restaurants to greet kids along the way.
There is no line or ticket, just a chance to spot him on 8th Street, say hello and snap a photo between holiday errands.
Parent tip: Walk the 8th Street blocks between 1 and 4 pm and keep a phone ready, since Santa moves from shop to shop.
- Host
- Downtown Holland (City of Holland) (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Downtown Holland shops and restaurants, Holland, MI 49423 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Holland events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Holland daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Holland.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
European Christmas marketFree
Kerstmarkt
- When: Fridays 3 to 8 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 7 pm, November 20 to December 19, 2026
- Where: 8th Street Marketplace, 150 W 8th Street, Holland, MI 49423 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free admission
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Holland’s Kerstmarkt is a European-style outdoor Christmas market at the corner of 8th Street and Pine Avenue, with holiday gifts, food and artisan demonstrations.
It opens on Friday evenings and Saturdays from late November through December 19, so it pairs easily with Santa’s Saturday strolls downtown.
Parent tip: Use the free parking at the market, then walk a few blocks east into Downtown Holland to look for Strolling Santa on a Saturday.
- Host
- Holland Friends of Art (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- 8th Street Marketplace, 150 W 8th Street, Holland, MI 49423 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Holland events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Holland daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Holland.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Sinterklaas and Dutch traditionsFree
Dutch Winterfest
- When: December 1 to 5, 2026
- Where: Holland, various locations, Holland, MI 49423 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free to attend, some activities ticketed
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Tulip Time brings Dutch holiday traditions to Holland for a week of Dutch Winterfest, with Sinterklaas festivities, ice skating, cultural tastings and whimsical decorations.
It overlaps the Parade of Lights and a Kerstmarkt weekend, so early December is the busiest stretch for families in town.
Parent tip: Check the Dutch Winterfest schedule before you go, since some tours and activities need tickets, and plan to catch Sinterklaas.
- Host
- Tulip Time Festival (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Holland, various locations, Holland, MI 49423 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Holland events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Holland daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Holland.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Michigan Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Holland Christmas event for kids happens
Do the Parade of Lights on December 1, then pick a Saturday for the Kerstmarkt in the morning and a Strolling Santa hunt on 8th Street in the afternoon.
- KerstmarktHolland · Nov 27 to Dec 19
- Parade of LightsHolland · Dec 1
- Dutch WinterfestHolland · Dec 1 to Dec 5
- Strolling Santa in Downtown HollandHolland · Dec 5 to Dec 19
Looking further afield? Our Michigan Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Allendale, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonKeep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Michigan city.
Holland Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Holland this year?
Rally Takes the Train has confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Holland, Michigan, for 2026: the Parade of Lights on December 1, Dutch Winterfest December 1 to 5, the Kerstmarkt Christmas market and Strolling Santa on December Saturdays.
When is the Holland Parade of Lights 2026?
Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 6:30 pm. It starts at 8th Street and Columbia Avenue and heads west to Holland Civic Center Place. 8th Street closes at 2 pm.
When is the Holland Kerstmarkt open?
Fridays 3 to 8 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 7 pm from November 20 to December 19, 2026, at the 8th Street Marketplace, 150 W 8th Street. Admission is free.
Where can kids see Santa in Holland?
At the Parade of Lights on December 1, and strolling through Downtown Holland shops on Saturdays, December 5, 12 and 19, from 1 to 4 pm.
Who do I contact about Downtown Holland holiday events?
Downtown Holland at downtown@cityofholland.com or 616-796-1210. For Kerstmarkt, Holland Friends of Art at info@hollandfriendsofart.com, and for Dutch Winterfest, Tulip Time at info@tuliptime.com.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Michigan?
Yes. Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Michigan Christmas train rides page.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked Holland on November 11, 2026. Rally is also contacting each organizer to confirm details like parking, restrooms and bad-weather plans.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.