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Zeeland board shifts holiday festival to weekend, adds gingerbread-house window contest
Summary
City Events Planner Kerri VanDorp told the Shopping Area Redevelopment Board the 'Feel the Zeel of Christmas' festival will move to Friday–Saturday, Dec. 5–6, 2025 (4–8 p.m.), and will include a new gingerbread-house competition with 10 kits to be displayed in storefront windows; 'Happy Hour Hop' is slated to start in 2026.
City Events Planner Kerri VanDorp presented changes to downtown holiday programming to the Shopping Area Redevelopment Board on Oct. 9, 2025, saying the 'Feel the Zeel of Christmas' festival will move from midweek evenings to Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6, from 4 to 8 p.m.
VanDorp said the change responds to slow turnout in recent years and is intended to concentrate activities when more people are available. She described a new gingerbread-house competition: 10 gingerbread kits will be provided to 10 artists and the completed houses will be displayed in 10 storefront windows downtown. VanDorp also confirmed the scheduled Downtown Trick-or-Treat on Oct. 31 and said the 'Happy Hour Hop' event will begin in 2026.
Marketing Director Abigail deRoo recorded the presentation in the minutes; the board did not record a formal vote on the schedule at this meeting. The minutes do not detail budgets, permit changes, or security plans for the events. The board will receive additional details as event planning continues and staff coordinates logistics with downtown businesses.
