Holland businesses hope to benefit from Fourth of July

HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) — People filled Kollen Park in downtown Holland in anticipation for the free Fourth of July fireworks Thursday.

You’d normally see this amount of people on the weekends, but with the day of America’s independence falling on a Thursday this year, businesses in downtown Holland were happy to get the traffic during the week.

Food trucks were set up earlier in the day. Families found a spot at the park to watch the free fireworks on the water that started at dusk.

Those in attendance who were decked out in red, white, or blue got a special 20% off items at select shops and restaurants.

News 8 spoke with the general manager of The Curragh Irish Pub about how business is this year compared to last. She said the restaurant is hoping tonight’s Fourth of July celebration kicks off the rest of a good and profitable summer season.

“Last year was definitely a lot busier than this year. We’ve been seeing a lot of people just not coming out with their big parties or families and not coming out for all of the meals. maybe one meal a week to go out to dinner instead of going out to dinner, lunch, and breakfast and everything,” Carly Civici,  The Curragh’s Irish Pub’s general manager, said.

“And sharing it with all the different restaurants down here when people stop going out to eat it gets a little thin picking for everyone.”

8 ^th Street was shut down at 6:30 p.m. for street performers and the rest of the Fourth of July festivities.

Business owners told News 8 they are thankful the holiday brought out the crowds they did and they are excited to do more business the rest of this summer.

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