Got Christmas Shopping To Do? West Michigan Holiday Market Ranked Among Best in U.S.

Got some Christmas shopping to do? Or maybe you just want to get in the holiday spirit? A local holiday market selling hand-made goods, arts, crafts, and food is getting national attention!

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One West Michigan Christmas market is in the running for the Best Holiday Market in the Country in a USA Today 10Best Readers' Poll:

You don’t need a passport to have a traditional Christmas market experience. Christmas markets are a European holiday tradition brought over by immigrants. Today, cities and towns across the country host holiday markets inspired by those of Germany, complete with traditional food, music, and holiday treats.

To determine their ranking, a panel of experts have chosen 20 traditional holiday markets from across the U.S. - and among them is Holland's Kerstmarkt! It is now up to a public vote to determine the top ten.

“Kerstmarkt” in Dutch means “Christmas market" and Holland's has been in operation since 1997!

While Holland has always been a popular destination in the spring, summer and fall, the Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau wanted to find a way to bring visitors to visit their award-winning downtown during the winter months, while continuing to honor the city's Dutch heritage.

The CVB began researching and even sent representatives to Europe during the holiday season to learn more about Christmas markets. Among the many ideas they came back with, they were inspired by the wooden booths at many markets that consist of four walls and a roof and that can be dismantled, stored and reassembled for the new season - And so, Kerstmarkt in Holland, Michigan, was born.

Kerstmarkt is in operation at the 8th Street Marketplace at the corner of 8th Street and Pine Avenue, Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 18 through Dec. 16, 2023.

Dates and times may vary, so if you'd like to go, you can check the schedule here. See the full list of this year's vendors

The market offers holiday items, delicious food, artisan wares, crafts like wreath-making, and sign-painting, and even hosts entertainment and special events, like handbell performances and dogsled demonstrations.

Follow Krestmarkt on Facebook for updates on special events in 2023.

Here's USA Today's praise for Kerstmarkt,

Holland, Michigan is best known for its spring tulips, but Kerstmarkt offers a good reason to visit in the winter... Weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, some 18 booths set up at 8th Street Market Place, selling holiday decorations, gifts and seasonal treats.

We can vote for Holland's Kerstmarkt in USA Today's poll here once per day through November 29 at noon!