Tag: downtown holland

Tulip Time: Fast Facts

Local or not, the annual Tulip Time Festival here in Holland, Michigan is an event you’re not going to want to miss. This nine-day festival celebrates everything Dutch, and visitors experience vibrant parades, colorful blooming tulips, and unforgettable culinary experiences.

To add even more excitement into the mix, Tulip Time has been voted one of the Top 10 Best Small Town Festivals. Read along with some of these fun facts about our small town and it’s big party:

Did you know: Holland boasts over 5 million tulips during our festival. Tulips are located in city parks, public attractions and parks, and along our streets! This year, you can even Ask Alexa to track the tulip bloom for you, to keep up with every bulb this year.

The average time spent at Tulip Time for all visitors is 2.67 days. That time could be spent watching the parades, checking out the tulips on Windmill Island, or shopping and eating at Downtown Holland’s very best shops and restaurants.

There are 3 main parades that take place on 8th street. Volksparade comes first, otherwise known as the “People’s Parade.” Kinderparade is on May 9th, and features local school children dressed in their Dutch Best. Lastly, the Muzikparade, performed by marching bands and Holland’s best musicians (did you know: you can stream the parade from wherever you are! Click here to check out your options).

The average rating for visitors of Tulip Time is 9.10 – That means guests are very likely to recommend visiting Tulip Time to others! We are firm believers that it is impossible to have a bad time at the Festival, and this report from Hope College proves it!

At the end of it all: you can take home some bulbs for yourself! Take a piece of Dutch Heritage home with you, buy your own at Nelis’ Dutch Village, Veldheer Tulip Garden, and Windmill Island Gardens.

 

The Tulip Time festival is the pride and joy of our town, and we want you to experience all of it! Check out the full schedule here so you don’t miss a thing.

If Tulip Time is on your schedule this year, stop by and say hi!  We’re located right downtown on 8th street, and we’d love to chat about all the things we love about Holland with you!

 

Holiday Events in Downtown Holland

If the first snowfall didn’t tip you off, the holiday season is upon us! We are looking forward to another exciting season, especially here in Downtown Holland. The decorations are up, lights are lining 8th Street, and we’re ready for all the festive fun in store.

This November and December, the Downtown Holland Principal Shopping District will be hosting special holiday events, available for anyone to attend! Mark your calendars and make sure you share with your friends!

Holland Shop ’Til You Drop

Get your holiday shopping off to an early start with the Shop ’Til You Drop late night shopping event on November 10. Participating merchants will be offering discounts of:
20% off from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
25% off from 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
30% off from 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Stay up late, shop the night away and save big on all of your holiday gifts this year! (Discounted merchandise will vary by store, but will include a discount off at least one item.)

Holiday Open House

On Saturday, November 17, Downtown Holland hosts the annual Holiday Open House from 5 pm – 8 pm! Attendees are invited to stroll the decorated sidewalks and enjoy complimentary refreshments and free gift wrapping in stores while shopping for holiday gifts. The event also features singing carolers, chestnut roasting, a strolling Santa Claus and a reindeer petting corral. The Holiday Open House concludes at 8:00 pm with a tree lighting ceremony in GDK Park.

Small Business Saturday

Join us in supporting our local Downtown Holland businesses on Small Business Saturday on November 24! Participating business will be offering fun giveaways, special promotions and more all day long. And be sure to enter the Small Business Saturday Selfie Contest. Just post a selfie of yourself shopping in Downtown Holland on Small Business Saturday for a chance to win a $100 gift card to the Downtown Holland business of your choice. The winner will be selected at random and announced on Monday, November 27.

Parade of Lights

The annual Downtown Holland Parade of Lights will roll down 8th Street on Tuesday, November 27 at 6:30pm. During the parade, Santa arrives in Downtown Holland escorted by bands, floats, trucks and more…all decked out in thousands of sparkling holiday lights! The parade begins at the corner of 8th Street and Columbia Avenue and travels west down 8th Street until it reaches the Holland Civic Center Place, home of the Holiday Kersmarkt. At the conclusion of the parade, Santa and his reindeer will take time to greet their fans…young and old alike!

Up on the Rooftops

During Up On The Rooftops, you’re invited to experience an exclusive tour of Downtown Holland’s rarely seen second story…and a few secret gems! Enjoy an elegant dessert reception at the beautiful Fifth Third Bank building on 8th Street either before or after this self-guided tour of homes and offices in the historic buildings of Downtown Holland, all decorated for the holidays by a Downtown business. Tickets are $25 each and are available online at www.upontherooftops.com and can be reserved in the Downtown Holland office at 150 West 8th Street the following Monday.

Shopping Jam

Shop early, come as you are, and save big at Downtown Holland’s annual Shopping Jam! Participating businesses will open early for this special event. From 8:00 am to 9:00 am save 30% off at least one item and from 9:00 am to 10:00 am save 25% off at least one item. For more details on the Shopping Jam, click here!

 

 

5 Things: Josi Van Horn

In our 5 Things series, we take a moment with some of the members of our office to learn more about their lifestyle and passion for the business. This month, we sit down with Global Real Estate Advisor, Josi Van Horn.

Favorite thing about your office space:

“I love our location. Being in the heart of Downtown Holland, we can walk to local places for lunch and establish relationships with community members so easily. All of the windows are probably the best part. They let natural sunlight into our space, and during Tulip Time, we have the best seats in the house for the parades.”

Favorite place in Downtown Holland:

“This is really difficult picking just one! But I have to say my apartment. It’s gotten to be something that’s an extension of me. I’ve been able to turn it into a place that when I walk in the door at the end of the day, it feels like home.”

Realtors of Holland

The source of your passion for real estate:

“My favorite thing about selling real estate is all of the people I get to meet. Assisting them in the buying and selling process, we become quite close and I begin to think of my clients as more of friends, and less of partners in business. While walking through their homes, I get to know their family, their history, and I learn about the memories they hope to make at their new home. I love continuing that relationship past the sales process and catching up with them in the weeks afterward to see how they have been enjoying their new lifestyle.”

Favorite thing to do in the summer:

“Being on the water, be that boating or just sitting on the beach. As a local to Holland, I enjoy knowing little exclusive beach spots not everyone may know of… grabbing an easy snack and having my own private picnic watching the sunset is my ideal summer night.”

Holland Michigan

Why Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty?

“Over the last 8+ years as I’ve built and developed my career, I have had many offers from many different real estate companies all across the country, but I choose Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty because of the culture. The sense of belonging and family, I just don’t think I could get that anywhere else. The relationships and rapport I build with others in the office and community are what keep me here.”

Explore the homes Josi Van Horn represents and get to know her further.

 

5 Reasons to Experience Tulip Time

If you have never made your way to Holland, Michigan for their annual Tulip Time festival, this should be your year. Among the nine-day celebration of the city’s rich Dutch heritage comes blooming bulbs, eclectic parades, timeless events, and we can pretty much guarantee more klompen than you ever thought you’d see.

In case that didn’t provide you with enough hype, Tulip Time has been named one of the Best Small-Town Festivals by Reader’s Digest, and was recognized as USA Today’s 2016 Best Flower Festival. 

Need more reassurance that you need to pay Tulip Time a visit this year? Here are our Top 5 reasons to experience Holland’s Tulip Time festival.

1. The Tulips

If for nothing else, at least experience the blooms! The Holland, Michigan area boasts over 5 million tulips each spring. From city parks to downtown on 8th Street, and pretty much every street corner in between, these gorgeous flowers pepper the city. Take in their beauty and the bright colors woven throughout the already stunning Holland landscape.

2. The Parades

You haven’t seen a community parade until you’ve seen a Tulip Time parade! The Volksparade is donned the “People’s Parade” with marching bands, specialty floats, and “street scrubbers”. The Kinderparade features local school children dressed in traditional Dutch costumes. Finally, the Muziekparade has over 4,000 participants with the longest festival parade route, boasting lively music and entertainment all along the route.

3. The ArtTulip Time Parade

Whether attending a great concert, like The Beach Boys, or a hilarious River City Improv show, or just taking in the stunning pieces at the Art in Bloom exhibit, there is plenty of art and culture during Tulip Time. Some events may have a small fee for attending, but it’s always worth your while.

4. The Family Fun

Calling all thrill-seekers: you won’t want to miss out on the Tulip Time carnival! The ferris wheel towers over the Holland Civic Center’s North lot, while attractions aimed at younger kids are set up in the South lot. It’s guaranteed fun for even the most timid ride warrior.

5. The Food!

Our stomachs are already growling thinking about all of the food available during Tulip Time! Alongside some of Holland’s delicious year-round restaurants are vendors populating the city. From elephant ears to hot dogs to cotton candy and cinnamon rolls, this is a food-lover’s dream. Be sure to bring cash and take a bite out of some delicious Tulip TIme treats.

On your way to Tulip Time? Check out the festival’s full schedule so you don’t miss any of the fun.

In town for Tulip Time? Stop by our office, located right downtown Holland on 8th Street. We’d love to say hello while you’re here!

 

Downtown Holland’s First Ever Charity Shopping Event

On Saturday, February 3rd, Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty had the pleasure of sponsoring Downtown Holland’s first ever charity shopping event, The Big Give. Over $16,500 was raised for the 15 non-profit organizations that were selected to participate in the event, an impressive number for the very first year!

With a total of 40 participating Downtown Holland stores and restaurants, 15% of all sales was donated to charity. During The Big Give, customers were invited to select which charity they wished a percentage of their purchase be donated to.

In our office, located in Downtown Holland on Eighth Street, we handed out freshly roasted almonds to passing shoppers. Not only was the warm treat well received, we also enjoyed meeting members of the Holland community. Everyone was in good spirits and couldn’t stop complimenting the event’s success!

Thank you to the Downtown Holland office for putting on The Big Give and allowing us to participate. The event was a true testament to the gracious nature of our beloved Holland community!

Downtown Holland's the big give

 

The 15 non-profit organizations that were selected by the Principal Shopping District Board of Directors to benefit from The Big Give included:

70×7 Life Recovery
Benjamin’s Hope
Center for Women in Transition
Community Action House
Grant Me Hope
Hand2Hand
Harbor Humane
Holland Free Health Clinic
Holland Rescue Mission
Hope Pkgs
Kids’ Food Basket
Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates
My House Ministry
Ottagan Addictions Recovery
Park Theatre

Downtown Holland Businesses That Participated in The Big Give:

Apothecary Gift Shop Big E’s Sports Grill
Blu Veranda
Borrs Shoes
Canterbury Cottage
Cherry Republic
Cotton Bay Boutique
Frances Jaye
Fris Downtown
Fustini’s of Holland
GarenHuis Yarn Studio, LLC
Glik’s Boutique
Glik’s Men’s Shop
GLOBE Design & Vision
Harbor Wear
Home and Company
Hops at 84 East
jb and me
Karla’s Place
Kilwins Chocolates
Lemonjello’s Coffee
Michigan Pantry
Moynihan Gallery
New Holland Brewing Company
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
Peachwave Frozen Yogurt and Gelato
Reader’s World
Salon Cheveux
Sandcastle
Seedlings
Spring Sweet
Studio K Clothing Co. Teerman’s
The Bridge
The City Delicatessen
The Seasoned Home
Threads on 8th
TIKAL
Tip Toes
Velo City Cycles

What To Do This Weekend: Holland

You say it’s only Tuesday, we say the weekend’s only three days away! That means it’s time to start making plans to soak up every last drop of sunshine the summer has to offer. Why not hang out in Holland? There’s a number of events happening from August 11-13. Have a personal favorite? Tell us which event you’ll be attending in the comments!

  • Downtown Holland Sidewalk Sales, at participating stores, August 11 & 12 – Bargainers delight: find items from your favorite shops and boutiques at a discounted rate.

 

  • Holland Museum’s Exhibit “For the Future Peace: WWII and Holland on the Homefront”, August 11-13 – Explore stories from Holland locals who share the impact of WWII.

 

  • Kollen Park Summer Concert presents The Ragtops, August 11 – Grab a lawn chair and head to the park from 6:30-8:30pm to hear live music.

 

  • Downtown Holland’s Farmer’s Market, August 12 – Visit the local booths for fresh local finds, beginning at 9:30am.

 

  • Meteors & S’mores, August 12 – The beach is open a little later for guests looking to view hundreds of meteors. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, but the s’mores will be provided!

 

Looking to visit some of Holland’s attractions? There’s always our sugar sand beaches, a trip to Dutch Village, or even a pleasant walk near Mt Pisgah. However you choose to spend your time this weekend, consider spending it in Holland!