Ottawa County usher is holiday cheer with parades, events

Ottawa County is about to be taken over by the holiday spirit.

Several communities around the county will be hosting holiday events to celebrate the holiday season.

Coopersville: Christmas Parade of Lights

4-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5

Come and enjoy the 45th annual nighttime Christmas Parade in Coopersville.

Stop and see Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Coopersville Farm Museum from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Listen to the community band perform at 5:30 p.m. and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies 4-7 p.m.

The Christmas Tree Lighting will be at Pocket Park at 6:30 p.m. and the parade will follow.

This is one of the largest fundraisers for the Rotary Club of Coopersville. The proceeds cover the costs of the event as well as the open house at the Coopersville Farm Museum. Leftover proceeds will be used to fund the Rotary's grant opportunities as well as several other community-wide events.

Georgetown: Community Tree Lighting & Holiday Market

4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2

The Community Tree Lighting event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Georgetown Township Public Library, 1525 Baldwin St., Jenison, followed by a performance by the West Michigan Community Chorale

Be sure to stop in the library for other fun activities as well as the annual themed tree display.

From 6-8 p.m., kids' crafts will be offered in the children's program room, and there will be a local history room open house hosted by the Jenison Historical Association. At 7 p.m., Mrs. Claus will be telling stories in the second-floor reading room.

Food trucks from Patty Matters & Runyon House Roasts will be on site.

4-8PM: Holiday Market

Grand Haven: Jingle Bell parade

6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

More than 80 festive, holiday-themed floats and local marching bands will lead the procession ahead of Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The festivities will begin on Franklin Street, traveling west to Harbor Drive, heading north along Harbor, and turning east onto Washington Avenue, concluding at Central Park.

This year's parade will be led by local radio personalities Eric and Amanda Kaelin of 103.5 WAWL, who have been named the event's grand marshals in recognition of their contributions to the community, according to the station’s Facebook page. 

The parade's conclusion will end with the community tree-lighting ceremony at Central Park. Following the final float, attendees are encouraged to gather for a traditional Christmas carol sing-along featuring Santa, Mrs. Claus, and friends.

The Salvation Army will be on hand serving complimentary hot chocolate. Additionally, downtown businesses will contribute to the event’s holiday cheer by handing out candy and other treats to the spectators.

Registration for parade floats is full, but the Chamber of Commerce urges those interested to call its office at 616-842-4910 or email atripp@grandhavenchamber.org to get on a waiting list.

Grandville: Christmas at the Commons

5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

The City of Grandville will close Chicago Drive mid-day Dec. 6 and stage a stationary parade, where viewers can stroll along Chicago Drive 5-8 p.m. and view all of the “floats.”

There will also be reindeer, holiday bunnies, Dickens Carolers, North Pole houses, character photo stops, and stages for Christmas musicians. In the lots around the stationary parade, there will be train rides, food vendors, a mini-Christmas market, the mega tree, a synthetic ice rink and more.

The tree lighting will take place at 5:30 p.m.

Holland: Parade of Lights

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2

Sinterklaas arrives in downtown Holland during the Parade of Lights, escorted by more than 80 floats, commercial vehicles, walkers and marching bands — all decked out from top to bottom in thousands of sparkling lights.

The Parade of Lights, sponsored by Gentex Corp., will begin at the corner of Eighth Street and Columbia Avenue and proceed west down Eighth until it reaches the Holland Civic Center Place, 150 W. Eighth St.

The event will also feature the city's annual Holiday Kerstmarkt.

Also check out Holland's new Ice Park, which is now officially open, offering a new focal point for winter recreation in the heart of downtown Holland.

Hudsonville: Tree Lighting and Holiday Parade

4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20

Watch the annual tree lighting at 6 p.m. in Gemmen’s Ace Hardware Parking Lot, 3488 Kelly St.

Hudsonville Family Dentistry will be offering complimentary hot cocoa and hosting entertaining kids’ activities. Food trucks will also be on site, including Pronto Pups, Big Red’s BBQ and Travelin Toms Coffee/Beverages.

The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the route following Cherry Avenue to Harvey Street to School Avenue, leading through the heart of downtown Hudsonville. The nighttime parade is sponsored by Corewell Health.

Zeeland: Tree Lighting and Magical Christmas Parade

5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1

Kick off the holiday season with the 13th Annual Christmas Tree lighting in downtown Zeeland.

Enjoy music performed by Tuba Christmas (5:45 p.m.) and the Tarnished Brass Band (6 p.m.) before the official lighting at the center of the Splash Pad, 21 S. Elm St. The tree will be lit by Mayor Kevin Klynstra at 6:15 p.m. sharp.

The Magical Christmas Parade will immediately follow at 6:30 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Zeeland Board of Public Works, Drip Coffee, Koele Godfrey Investment Group, Dekkers Jewelry and Chips Groundcover and Holiday Lighting.

— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.