Holland, Michigan is bringing back its Dutch Winterfest for a second year this December, adding a new ice-skating show and an expanded downtown holiday display to a lineup of Sinterklaas events, cultural tours and tastings that organizers hope will grow from hundreds of attendees to thousands.
Tulip Time Festival will host the second annual Dutch Winterfest, according to MLive, which reported the festival runs December 1-5, 2026. Other outlets have published differing dates for the celebration: Fox 17 also reported a Dec. 1-5 run, while WOOD Radio reported the festival runs Dec. 2 through Dec. 5, and WOODTV described it as a four-day event planned for Dec. 2 to Dec. 6. Tulip Time describes Dutch Winterfest as a seasonal celebration that brings Dutch holiday traditions to life through festive events, cultural experiences and community cheer.
Gwen Auwerda, executive director of Tulip Time Festival, said the organization is excited to bring the event back for a second year as it works to build something lasting for Holland. “We are incredibly excited to bring Dutch Winterfest back for a second year,” Auwerda said, according to the same WOOD Radio report, adding that organizers want to continue building something special for the community.
New Ice Show Celebrates Dutch Heritage
The festival's biggest new addition is Dutch Skate, a debut event at the Holland Ice Park featuring performers in traditional Dutch attire. The show is meant to highlight the city's cultural connection to the Netherlands, where ice skating remains one of the most popular winter traditions. Auwerda said Dutch Skate brings Dutch heritage to life in a new and unexpected way.
Downtown, a new Delft Downtown display will transform public spaces with oversized ornaments, wooden shoes and other Dutch icons inspired by traditional blue-and-white Delft pottery, Fox 17 reported. The festival will also bring back Kerstmarkt, an outdoor holiday market, along with Windmill Island Gardens' Magic at the Mill light show. Per Downtown Holland, Kerstmarkt runs select Friday and Saturday dates from Nov. 20 through Dec. 19 at the Eighth Street Marketplace with more than 30 artisan vendors, while Magic at the Mill runs Fridays and Saturdays from Dec. 4-19 and features a light-and-music show with 1,000 LED blossoms dancing to holiday music.
Sinterklaas Shuffle and Tasting Tour Return
Families can again take part in the Sinterklaas Shuffle, a self-guided downtown adventure that takes participants through Holland with lanterns and passports to themed stations featuring holiday characters and lessons about Sinterklaas traditions. According to Tulip Time, the hour-long experience begins at the Tulip Time Office at 42 W 8th St, where participants pick up their lantern and passport; passports cost $5 each, and adults and non-participating siblings may accompany children for free.
The Holiday Huis Tour will give visitors access to unique buildings and spaces around town, while the Proost! Tasting Tour pairs handcrafted beverages with Dutch-inspired food at three different locations, offering three tastings and three food bites along the way, Fox 17 reported. The tasting tour already has a track record of drawing crowds — the outlet noted that Proost! sold out during Holland's Fall Fest weekend.
Parade of Lights and Live Music Round Out the Lineup
Downtown Holland's Parade of Lights returns as part of the festival, escorted by more than 80 floats, commercial vehicles, walkers and marching bands, according to Downtown Holland. The parade is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m. Live music will also feature prominently, with Michigan-IO's holiday show and winter jazz performances alongside a Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra performance at the Park Theatre, MLive reported.
Organizers are anticipating a significant jump in turnout for the festival's second run. WOODTV reported that organizers expect thousands of attendees this year after seeing hundreds at a couple of events last year, as the festival aims to establish itself as a fixture of Holland's winter calendar. The full schedule, concert information and ticket details are available at dutchwinterfest.com, according to MLive.
