2025 dates:

Burgers, Brews and Bingo at Taylor's Tavern 4/11/25 at 6pm


Gold & Glitz Gala at the Holly Vault 10/17/25 at 6pm


Lighted Parade & Tree Lighting in Downtown Holly 11/28/25 at 6pm

Festival Dates:

11/29-11/30/25

12/6-12/7/25

12/13-12/14/25

Love Note from a Festival Attendee

"Had a great time at the Holly Dickens Festival. Many were wearing the Dickens era costumes, caroling

throughout the festival and stores, Boy Scouts roasting chestnuts on an open fire, street performers, benches, tables

and chairs set up to sit on by fire pits, heaters, street vendors, beer/spirits tent and carriage rides. Really enjoyed

 shopping. The quaint coffee shops are so relaxing and cozy.

We stayed overnight on Battle Alley and loved everything."


Robyn Anderson

Meet the board


Pictured:Front Left side Holly Herrick , Michael McCanney, Linda Stouffer (Secretary), Jerome Raska (Executive Director), Amy Hillman ,Jennifer Ryan (Treasurer) ,Pam Messing.

 Not pictured: Cal Steele

Become a volunteer!

FREE ADMISSION | ALL AGES WELCOME | THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Wreath Walk in Holly 2025

Step into the magical world of Downtown Holly. Local Businesses and Organizations have created wreaths and displayed in their storefronts. All are available for purchase and ALL proceeds benefit the longstanding festival!

2025 FESTIVAL SCHEDULES

WEEK ONE

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Saturday, November 29, 2025

11 AM - 6 PM

Sunday, November 30, 2025

12 PM - 5 PM

WEEK TWO

DECKED OUT FOR DICKENS

Saturday, December 6, 2025

11 AM - 6 PM

Sunday, December 7, 2025

12 PM - 5 PM

Sunday, December 14,2025

12 PM - 5 PM

WEEK THREE

GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE!

Saturday, December 13., 2025

11 AM - 6 PM

IT'S OUR 52nd YEAR!

HOLLY, MICHIGAN HAS BEEN HOSTING THE DICKENS FESTIVAL SINCE 1973

Holly History

Although only 50 miles from the city of Detroit, many Michiganders consider Holly “up north.” 


The Holly area contains numerous glacial lakes and ponds, making it an ideal place for fishing, camping and hunting. 


Some of the buildings in Holly date to the mid-1870s and some of the homes are even older. It’s a perfect location to host the oldest longest-running Dickens Festival in the United States! 

In 1838, Holly became the last township in Oakland County. 


In 1855, the Detroit, Milwaukee and Pontiac Railroad finally reached Holly from Detroit. Holly turned out to be a crucial junction in the east-west line. The railroads created hotels and dining establishments. 


Henry Howland Crapo was a lumberman with significant timber and land holdings, but to make money from the lumber, he had to find a way to ship it. He created the Flint & Holly Railroad, which opened on Nov. 1, 1864, connecting Flint to Holly. The new railroad company also opened the Saginaw Valley to settlement and started a lumber boom that lasted for over two decades. 


Holly became the first railroad junction in the state, and in 1865, the Village of Holly was incorporated. While trains were the life blood of the area's economy, the Village remained small and the surrounding townships rural. 

Two devastating fires in the 1870s led the village to build the first waterworks system in Oakland County and all businesses were required to be built of brick. 


Holly’s Battle Alley, in the heart of the Village, earned the nickname more than 100 years ago due to the number of disputes settled there. The wild reputation of Battle Alley drew the attention of famous temperance activist, Carrie Nation and she and her anti-alcohol supporters beat patrons of the saloons with umbrellas and Nation used her ax to smash whiskey bottles. 


In June 2022, another fire threatened the Village. The six-alarm fire destroyed Arcade Antiques and severely damaged The Holly Hotel, Andy’s Place restaurant and the Holly Moose Lodge. 150 firefighters from departments across Oakland County answered the call to keep the fire from destroying the entire downtown area. 

 

Want to learn more about Holly past & present? Stop by the Hadley House Museum at 306 S. Saginaw Street from 1 – 4 pm or visit the links below. 


INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING DURING THE FESTIVAL?

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