HOLLAND, MI – After being cancelled last year due to Covid, Downtown Holland’s annual Fall Fest is back…and this year is bigger and better than ever before! Downtown Holland and the Holland Farmers Market have partnered with the Holland Visitors Bureau, Tulip Time, and Windmill Island Gardens to expand this year’s Fall Fest offerings. During this two-day event held Friday October 8 and Saturday, October 9, the entire community is invited to celebrate everything there is to love about fall, with professional pumpkin carving, children’s activities, family hayrides, community tulip planting, an artisan market at Windmill Island Gardens, fall walking tours, and more! Fall Fest is proudly sponsored by Crown Motors, member of West Michigan Honda, with in-kind support from Biggby Coffee, Bowerman Blueberries Farm Market, the Courtyard Marriott, and Fris Supply Shop.

Fall Fest kicks on Friday, October 8 with Community Tulip Planting from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, hosted by Tulip Time. Visitors and community members can visit the Tulip Time website (www.tuliptime.com) to sign up for a time slot to help plant 75,000 of Holland’s famous tulip bulbs at Window On The Waterfront in Downtown Holland! All volunteers will be treated to complimentary donuts from Bowerman’s Blueberry Market and coffee from Biggby Coffee of Holland. Gardening gloves are recommended, but all other tools and instructions will be provided onsite.

Fall Fest continues on Friday, October 8 with eight of the nation’s best professional pumpkin carvers, including Food Network alumni, appearing in Downtown Holland from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. The carvers will spend the afternoon and evening carving jack-o-lanterns all along 8th Street in Downtown Holland. And trust us, these aren’t the same jack-o-lanterns you’ll see on everyone’s doorstep on Halloween! At 7:00 pm, the jack-o-lanterns will be lit from within and will remain on display until 10:00 pm that night for visitors to explore while strolling through Downtown Holland.

On Saturday, October 9, the professional pumpkin carvers will appear at the Holland Farmers Market from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, carving incredible 3D sculptures onsite. Children can also paint their own pumpkins to bring home during that time for just $1.00 per pumpkin, with all painting supplies provided by Fris Supply Shop in Downtown Holland. Market vendors Visser Farmers will also be offering hayrides from the Holland Farmers Market to Downtown Holland and back again from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Hayrides are just $3.00 per person for the round trip.

The Holland Farmers Market will be open from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm that day, stocked full thanks to the bountiful autumn harvest. Visitors will find seasonal décor items, including pumpkins, gourds, mums, and corn shocks at the Market, along with apples of every variety, squash, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables. And as always, you can pick up bread and baked goods, farm-raised and fresh caught meat, honey and maple syrup, and a wide variety of specialty foods and beverages while you’re there.

The Community Tulip Planting will continue on Saturday morning at Window On The Waterfront from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. Tulip Time will also be offering guided fall walking tours throughout Downtown Holland that day from 10:30 am – 1:30 pm. Each tour is approximately an hour and a half long and covers one and a half miles. Tour participants can enjoy the beauty of Downtown Holland while learning the dynamic past and present of Holland. Tour highlights include Hope College, Dimnent Chapel, Pillar Church, Centennial Park, and unique architecture sites. Tours are $25 per person and tickets must be purchased in advance at www.tuliptime.com.

Tulip Time will also be hosting an all-new Artisan Market at Windmill Island Gardens from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm as part of Fall Fest on Saturday, October 9. Over 50 local artisans and crafters will be selling their works as part of this juried show. Visitors can shop for hand-crafted jewelry, home décor, artwork, clothing, specialty foods, and more! Entry to the Artisan Market is just $5.00 per person, which also includes the opportunity to tour the beautiful gardens at Windmill Island and to visit the Dutch attractions, including the DeZwaan Windmill, the historic Dutch carousel, the miniature Dutch village, and much more. Professionally-carved pumpkins will also be on display throughout Windmill Island Gardens during the Artisan Market.

The Fall Fest fun continues in Downtown Holland on Saturday, October 9 too! The professional pumpkin carvers will return to 8th Street from 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm that day to continue carving 3D pumpkin displays. Watch these talented artists at work all afternoon long, then be sure to return later on in the evening from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm to see their finished masterpieces! While you’re strolling among the shops and restaurants in Downtown Holland, be sure to be on the look-out for the professionally-carved pumpkins on display that have been commissioned by our Downtown Holland businesses too! To add to the fun for families, street performers will also be performing on 8th Street from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, including musicians, face painters, balloon twisters, and more!

Special Fall Fest hotel packages are available in Holland at the Best Western Plus, Doubletree by Hilton and the Hilton Home 2 Suites. Ask for the Fall Fest Package when you make your reservation to receive a complimentary tote bag from the Holland Area Visitors Bureau, filled with fun souvenirs, special weekend discounts to Downtown Holland restaurants, and free admission to the Artisan Market at Windmill Island Gardens! For details on the hotel packages available, please visit the Holland Visitors Bureau website at www.holland.org.

For more information on all of the Fall Fest happenings, a complete schedule of events and a map to all of the activities, be sure to visit the official event website at www.hollandfallfest.com or contact the Holland Visitors Bureau at 616.394.0000.

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About Downtown Holland:
Located in the heart of the City of Holland, just minutes from the shores of Lake Michigan, and adjacent to the campus of Hope College, Downtown Holland is a premier shopping, dining and special events destination like none other! Downtown Holland offers over 100 locally owned boutiques, shops and galleries, along with breweries, cafes, and restaurants for every taste. Downtown Holland is also home to unique cultural attractions, an award-winning farmers market, and beautiful parks. We can’t wait to welcome you! For more information and the latest Downtown Holland news and updates, visit us online at www.downtownholland.com, follow Downtown Holland on Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to our monthly newsletter, or call 616.796.1210.

About the Holland Farmers Market:
The Holland Farmers Market is located at 150 West 8th Street at the Eighth Street Market Place in Downtown Holland. During the regular Market season, the Market is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm, rain or shine. Each season, the Holland Farmers Market brings together over 100 local farmers, specialty food vendors and food trucks, selling fresh produce, baked goods, specialty foods, plants, flowers, and so much more. Be sure to shop early for the best product assortment! The Market offers free parking and an onsite ATM. Bridge Cards, Double Up Food Bucks, Senior FRESH, and WIC Project FRESH are accepted at the Market. Animals are prohibited at the Market, so please leave Fido safe at home! For more information and the latest Holland Farmers Market news and updates, visit www.hollandfarmersmarket.com, follow the Holland Farmers Market on Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to The Market Beet newsletter or call 616.355.1138.

About Crown Honda:
Crown Honda serves Holland, Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kentwood, and Kalamazoo and is proud to be an automotive leader in the community. Since opening their doors in 1992, Crown Honda has maintained a solid commitment to their customers while offering the widest selection of Honda vehicles in the area.