Strawberry Acres Park in Holland was a place of communal celebration on August 4, when area residents gathered together to celebrate the village’s centennial. As part of the celebration, complimentary hot dogs, popcorn, drinks and ice cream were provided, as well as a live music performance.
Founded around 1852 with 100 people, the village became incorporated as a municipality in 1923, when a petition of incorporation passed by a vote of 96 to 46.
Holland has grown from a small village with a few hundred people to nearly 2,000 as of 2021.
In addition to picnic fare, the event featured the showing of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” at dusk. The film was the last one shown in this summer’s Picture in the Park series.
“I think it’s a great idea for the whole community to get together,” Mayor Lee Irons said.
He thanked the volunteers and organizations that made the event possible. “Everybody is involved, and I think it’s just a nice idea, it’s very low key. We do have hot dogs and popcorn and all that, but I think people mostly get together just to be together.”
The evening was not complete without a proclamation from Michael Lieber, official town crier of Holland. Mr. Lieber is one of just 13 criers in the United States, and 350 in the entire world.
With his signature “Oyez!” call and brass bell ringing out through the park, Mr. Lieber declared 2023 to be the 100 year centennial of the Village of Holland.
People spread picnic blankets out and enjoyed hot dogs, lemonade, popcorn and various other treats in Strawberry Acres Park last Friday.
