Calendar of Events
DECEMBER 2010
1-31 Christmas & Holiday Traditions Around the World, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids. 300,000 lights, 40 international holiday displays and trees, carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, nativity scenes, The Gardens Holiday Express train exhibit, trolley rides. 888-957-1580. www.MeijerGardens.org
1-11 Holiday Kerstmarkt, Eighth Street Marketplace, downtown Holland. Open-air European Christmas market selling Dutch festive treats, crafts, one of a kind items. Call 800-506-1299 for days and times.
1-30 Spread the Music-Holiday Road Lights, Free outdoor synchronized light show. Location: 16204 Heather Court, Spring Lake. Tues–Thurs 6pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-10pm. www.holidayroadlights.com/index.html
2-12 Mistletoe Market, South Haven Center for the Arts, 600 Phoenix St., South Haven. Local artists selling hand-crafted gifts. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm. 269-637-1041.
3 30th Annual Santa Claus Parade, 7pm, downtown Coopersville in the historic district
3 Lakeshore Community Chorus, ‘Holiday Reflections’ concert, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. 8pm. Tickets Adults: $15, Children: $5. 269-857-2399.
3 Sinterklaas Eve Procession, downtown Holland. Riding his great white horse, the traditional Dutch folk Sinterklaas arrives at Eighth Street Marketplace to lead a procession along 8th Street, then to Central Avenue and on to Centennial Park. After the mayor welcomes him at the park, everyone is invited to visit the Holland Museum for cookies, hot cocoa and a visit with Sinterklaas. 7pm. 616-394-0000.
3 Christmas at the Flywheelers, Michigan Flywheelers Museum, 06285 68th Street, South Haven. Santa, craft bazaar, holiday music, wagon rides. 5-8pm. 269-639-2010.
3 Community Tree Lighting Ceremony, Lake Bluff Park in St. Joseph. 7pm.
3-4 The Grand Haven Arts & Craft Show, Grand Haven Community Center. Fri: 10am-7pm, Sat: 10am-3pm. Contact Dawn, 616-842-5518.
3 Festive Friday Shopping Night kicks off in downtown Allegan. Free horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa, holiday activities. 6pm-8pm. Friday, Dec 10th “I’ll Be Home for Art Hop”; Friday, Dec. 17th “Let It Snow”. Call 269-673-3456 for info.
3-17 Fire Barn Gallery Art Show, 18 N. Fifth Street (corner of Columbus), Grand Haven. 6-9pm. 616-844-4172.
4 Reindog Parade, State Street in downtown St. Joseph. A holiday parade of dogs; free trolley rides, Santa’s House. Bring your pup, fill out an entry form before 11:30am, and join the parade -- and the fun. Prizes awarded to best dog costumes (and owners). Noon. 269-985-1111.
4 Winter Greenmarket, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. 10am- 3pm. Fresh holiday greenery, Christmas cookies, a visit from Santa, Victorian carolers, spiced cider, ornaments, handmade cards, wreaths, swags, live trees. 269-857-2399.
4 Eat, Shop & Be Merry fundraiser, held 9am-5pm at Cookies on Call, 25 Center Street, Douglas, and 10am-3pm at the SCA’s Winter Greenmarket at Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. Brunch at Cookies on Call - 50% of all proceeds go to SCA. 10% of cookie sales at SCA’s Winter Greenmarket go to SCA.
4 Annual Christmas Parade, Butler Street in downtown Saugatuck. 1pm. Holiday floats, Snow Shovel Brigade, Peppermint Stick Drill Team, Santa.
4 Luminary Lane, Beery Field in downtown Douglas. 6-8pm. Carolers, holiday lights, visit from Santa. 269-857-1626.
4 18th Annual Nouveau Fest, Fenn Valley Vineyards, 6130 122nd Avenue, Fennville. 1-5pm. Sample the newest Fenn Valley vintages. Guided tours of the wine cellar. Free. 269-561-2396.
4 Chicago Classic Brass Holiday Concert, First Congregational Church of Saugatuck, 296 Hoffman, Saugatuck. 7:30pm. (90-minute concert featuring a variety of holiday music. Refreshments. Tickets sold at the door: $15 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under.
4 Christmas Open House, Water Street Place Antique Mall, 420 Water Street, Allegan. 10am-7pm. Over 30 dealers selling pottery, silver, glass, textiles, retro, wicker and more. 10-25% discounts. Refreshments. 269-673-5841.
4 Jingle Bell Parade, downtown Grand Haven. Mr. and Mrs. Klaus, lighted holiday floats. Parade ends at Central Park for the lighting of the Christmas tree…and hot chocolate. 6pm.
4-5 Classic Holiday Home Tour, Grand Haven & Spring Lake 1-6 pm, Tickets $10. Contact Shirley Lees bcarlson@tri-citiesmuseum.org
5 Grand Rapids Choir of Men & Boys, All Saints Episcopal Church, on the corner of Hoffman Street and Grand, Saugatuck. 7pm. The choir will perform as part of the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols. Open to the public, free. Donations accepted. 269-857-5201.
10 Up On the Rooftops, Downtown Holland. Visitors tour the upper floors of historic downtown buildings. Appetizers and drinks served afterward at the Fifth Third Bank building. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased in advance. Call 616-394-0000 for more information.
10 Christmas at the Flywheelers, Michigan Flywheelers Museum, 06285 68th Street, South Haven. Santa, craft bazaar, holiday music, wagon rides. 5-8pm. 269-639-2010.
10-11 A Christmas Madrigal Feast Hope College Collegium Madrigal Dinner. Hope College, Maas Center, 264 Columbia Ave., downtown Holland. Madrigal dinner begins at 7pm. Call 616-395-7890 for ticket information.
10-12 Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” performed by the Saugatuck Village Players at the Saugatuck Woman’s Club, 303 Butler (at the corner of Butler & Hoffman), Saugatuck. Fri-Sat. 8pm, Sat Matinee 2pm, Sun.7pm. For tickets, call 269-857-701 on weekdays.
11 Homestead Holiday at DeGraaf Nature Center, 600 Graafschap Road, Holland. Learn how to make pioneer era holiday crafts and gifts such as German wax ornaments and cornhusk dolls, or dip and roll candles. No registration necessary. Fees for crafts start at .50 each. Hot chocolate and cookies await visitors at the nature center’s log cabin. 11am-3pm. 616-355-1057.
11 Symphony Orchestra & Chorale Holiday Celebration Concert, Dimnet Chapel, 277 College Ave., Holland. Two concerts by the Holland Symphony and Holland Chorale at 3:30pm and 7:30pm. Call 616-796-6780 for ticket info.
11-12 Victorian Christmas Tea, Cappon House, 228 W. 9th Street, Holland. 1-4pm, reservations required. Call 616-392-9084.
17-19 Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol performed by the Saugatuck Village Players at the Saugatuck Woman’s Club, 303 Butler (at the corner of Butler & Hoffman), Saugatuck. Fri-Sat. 8pm, Sat Matinee 2pm, Sun.7pm. For tickets, call 269-857-701 on weekdays.
18 Snowshoe Walk at the DeGraaf Nature Center, 600 Graafschap Road, Holland. The nature center has snowshoes ready for anyone who would like to hike the snowy trails. 2-3pm. Free for Friends of DeGraaf Nature Center, or $3 per person. A Winter Walk will be conducted if there is no snow. Call 616-355-1057 to register.
18 Downtown Shopping Jam, downtown Holland. Stores on 8th Street open at 7am to offer customers early morning bargains. The special shopping spree lasts from 7am-10am.
27-29 Workshop for Young Filmmakers at Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. Three day workshop for kids where they’ll learn about storyboarding, scripts, directing, acting, film production & post-production (editing, sound mixing, lighting, etc.) for use in their own filmed DVD. (8-10 years) 9:30am-12:30pm,
(11+years) 1pm-4pm. $95 student fee.
31 New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display, Saugatuck/Douglas Harbor, midnight. 269-857-1701.
JANUARY 2011
1 Sergeant Preston Race, 37th Annual 6K Run/5K Walk over the snowy dunes along the shores of Lake Michigan. Info: 1-877-TRY-LUGE, or www.msports.org
1-9 Christmas & Holiday Traditions Around the World, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids. 300,000 lights, 40 international holiday displays and trees, carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, nativity scenes, The Gardens Holiday Express train exhibit, trolley rides. 888-957-1580. www.MeijerGardens.org
7 Wine About Winter, downtown Grand Haven. Walking tour of stores offering wine tasting. Contact Dana, 616-844-1188
7-8 3rd Annual Ice Sculpting Competition, downtown Holland. 300 ice sculptures will be created by culinary schools from across the country and displayed along the. streets of downtown Holland.
9 Antiques on the Bluff@Shadowland on Silver Beach, Shadowland, 333 Broad Street, St. Joseph. Indoor winter antiques market. 269-985-1111 for more info.
22 12th Annual Chili Cook-off and Cellar Clearance Sales, Fenn Valley Vineyards, 6130 122nd Avenue, Fennville. Compete for the best chili in several categories. Those who don’t want to compete are invited to bring an appetizer or pot of chili for the ‘wine lovers’ potluck’. Chili contestants must pre-register. Potluck begins at 2pm. Cellar clearance sale is held from 11am-5pm on Sat. Jan. 22, Sun. from 12:30-5pm. 269-561-2396.
25-29 Muskegon Snowfest. Trivia Night, Euchre Tournament, Beer Tent, Snow Volleyball and Cornhole, Battle of the Bowls, Kidsfest, Broomball. Contact Chairperson Morgan Witmer for info: snowfest@muskegonjaycees.org
28 Winterfest Photo & Poster Contest Reception, Akeley Building, 200 Washington Ave., Grand Haven. 6:30pm-8pm. Contact Nancy, 616-842-0700.
29 Winterfest Kid’s Day, Grand Haven Community Center, 421 Columbus, Grand Haven. 2pm to 5pm. www.winterfestonline.org
29 Luau Extravaganza, Grand Haven Municipal Marina parking Lot, 8pm-midnight. Doors open at 7pm. No one admitted under the age of 21.
30 Winterfest-Snow Angel Contest will be held at Central Park on Washington Street (bet 4th & 5th) in downtown Grand Haven. 2:30pm to 4:30pm. Registration begins at 2:30, contest begins at 3pm.
Dec '10 - Jan '11