Welcome to the charming Village of Holly!
Sometimes called “The Up-North of Oakland County,” Holly squeezes plenty of fun for every season into just 3 square miles. My family chose to move to Holly because of its small-town feel while still being relatively close to bigger cities like Fenton and Grand Blanc for the essentials {read: Target}. The village is located 15 miles south of Flint between I-75 and US-23.
Village History:
The Village of Holly was established in 1863 as one of the first Michigan cities with a railroad junction and you can still hear the trains roaring through at all hours of the day. The popular “Battle Alley” located in the heart of downtown was named after a brawl in 1880 between locals and workers from the traveling circus! Once the home of major manufacturers such as Heinz, Holly is now known for its abundance of antique shops and unique restaurants. More recently, wedding venues have been developing in Holly, bringing with them a new wave of tourists.
Community Activities:
The Dickens Old Fashioned Christmas Festival – This takes place the 3 weekends after Thanksgiving and is the oldest, longest-running Dickens Festival in the United States! The whole village transforms into a scene straight from A Christmas Carol, including carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, and even old Fezziwig’s Ball!
Battle Alley Movie Nights – During the warmer months, you can catch a family-friendly movie being shown in Battle Alley in the evenings.
Holly Farmers Market – This is open on Sundays from 10-2 from May-October, with vendors that are 100% local farmers and artisans.
Restaurants:
Red Devil Pizza – My husband is a pizza connoisseur, so when he says this is the best pizza he’s ever had, you’ve gotta believe him!
Andy’s Place – Best burgers and fries – hands down! Plus, they have a great selection of local beers and live music several nights a week, including an open mic night every once in a while.
Cupcakes & Kisses – Cupcakes, cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream… basically all the sweet things you can imagine. We love that this shop is a family-owned and operated business. You have to try the Salted Caramel cupcake!!
Holly Hotel – With its rich history {including a visit from George & Martha Bush during his 1992 campaign}, the Holly Hotel is one of the best-known restaurants around. It frequently hosts themed dinners such as serving an 11-course meal modeled after what the 1st class passengers would have eaten aboard the Titanic. There is also a comedy club in the basement with shows running nearly every Friday and Saturday night.
Battle Alley Coffee – A cute little shop for the perfect cup of coffee while people-watching along the most popular street in downtown Holly. My favorite is the Campfire coffee flavor – they were somehow able to take the smell of sitting by a campfire and put it into a cup of coffee, but without the lingering smell on your sweater!
Holly Donut Shop: I have friends who drive 20+ minutes to grab donuts from this hometown favorite.
Jacq ‘N’ Diane’s Juice Box – Everything here is vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, made with 100% whole fruits and veggies – oh and delicious! Stop by on Taco Tuesday for one of their lettuce wraps made with walnut “meat,” you won’t be disappointed.
Shopping:
Winglemire Furniture – Operating in Holly since 1858 making custom, handmade furniture!
Sunnyside Shops at 101 – A collection of multiple independent antique sellers, all in one store! Your one-stop-shop for old-fashioned goods.
Vintage Industrial Uniques – All kinds of metal recreated into something new- think gears, clocks, signs, art. I love wandering through this shop!
Schools & Childcare:
Holly Academy – A charter school through Central Michigan University for Young 5’s through 8th grade that is ranked in the top 5% for Michigan and among the top 10% nationally.
Magic Moments Learning Center – Offering childcare for infants up to 5-years-old, Magic Moments has a wonderful atmosphere of amazing caregivers who not only teach, but love your children like your own.
Parks:
Seven Lakes State Park – Limitless trails for walking/biking, dozens of pavilions for a family picnic, a water slide playground on the beach, fishing, boating, and camping!
Holly State Recreation Area – Over 8,000 acres of trails and lakes! The beach is our favorite spot during the summer. In addition to swimming, there is also a playground, a cantina with snacks, and the Whoa Zone – a floating obstacle course!
Event Venues:
The Holly Vault – Owned & operated by HGTV’s Cari Cucksey {Cash & Cari}, The Vault was originally a bank built in the 1860s which they’ve renovated as a gorgeous industrial event venue. If you’re getting married here, the city will close off Battle Alley and you can have your ceremony on the streets of historical Holly!
The Oakley – Located on a beautiful 40-acre family property-turned-venue it includes a mansion for rent, outdoor ceremony space, and a large-capacity reception area.
The Grand Belle – Once used to process apples as part of a 300-acre apple orchard, the Grand Belle is now the epitome of a rustic, wedding barn venue.
What are your favorite things about Holly?
