christmas in BETHLEHEM

Highlights of the Holiday Market – Christkindlmarkt

This Christmas market is held annually in November and December. It is one of the largest and most popular Christmas markets in the United States, attracting over 1 million visitors each year. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids (in 2023). The market is held at the PNC Plaza, next to the SteelStacks, which is also worth checking out if you have some time. It is similar to those that you’d find in Europe. There are 100+ stalls selling handcrafted holiday gifts, decorations, food (like bratwurst, pretzels, and gingerbread), and drinks (both alcoholic and not). Some of the more popular stalls are:

Käthe Wohlfahrt: This German company is famous for its handcrafted ornaments, nutcrackers, and other Christmas decorations. You’ll find a wide variety of items to choose from, including traditional German designs as well as more modern and unique pieces. 

Stroopsies: This local eatery is known for its delicious Stroopies, a cinnamon waffle with a homemade caramel in the center!

Donegal Square/McCarthy’s Red Stag: Here you’ll find high-quality imported clothing, jewelry, home goods, foods and accessories from Ireland and the British Isles. 

Eight Oaks Farm Distillery: This veteran and family owned distillery offers Christmas-themed cocktails and drinks! Try the Winter Mule for a nice take on a Moscow Mule or the Ski Lift for a boozy take on hot chocolate.

The Moravian Star Factory: You can’t visit Bethlehem without noticing all of the Moravian stars everywhere. They’re a traditional Moravian Christmas decoration and unlike a traditional star that only has 5 points, a Moravian star has 26 points. I personally think they’re pretty cool looking! At this stall you can buy your very own Moravian star to bring home.

Non-Christmas Related Things To Do in Bethlehem

Walk the SteelStacks
Bethlehem Steel used to be one of the largest steel producers in the country. Since it shut down in 1995, it has been revitalized as a nice walking path with views into the former steel factory. You can walk a raised pathway that has a bunch of educational signs explaining the history of the sight. If you’ve walked The Highline in NYC it has a pretty similar feel. Stop by to see the role the steel factory played in shaping the USA, as well as its involvement in the World Wars. Or just take a casual walk and enjoy being outside. The walk is about a quarter mile each way, so you’ll end up walking a half mile total. 

There’s also an ice rink here, open from mid November to mid January (weather permitting).

Walk the downtown
Stroll the streets of the charming downtown. You’ll see a mix of historical buildings, cute shops, and local eateries. It’s about a 10 minute drive between the SteelStacks and downtown Bethlehem. Street parking fills up fast, but there are a couple large free lots scattered around town. We easily found parking near the Colonial Industrial Quarter. If you type “Colonial Industrial Quarter” into Google Maps you should see the lot! 

During the holiday season, there are holiday stalls sprinkled throughout the town selling artisan crafts and food!

Pop in to the oldest bookstore in the USA, the Moravian Bookshop
In addition to books, you’ll also find some Bethlehem-specific gifts and little trinkets. It’s also surprisingly large, so leave some time to walk through the aisles.

See the historic sites
When you reach the edge of the downtown, just past the Hotel Bethlehem, you’ll see some historic ruins and historic buildings. This is the Colonial Industrial Quarter. Here you can see the preserved 18th-century industrial area with original buildings like a Tannery and the area that provided waterpower for the mills. There are signs throughout the grounds explaining the spread of religion in the area as well as the growth of industries and crafts during colonial times. It’s interesting to look at – even if you’re not a history buff. 

Snacks and Sweets in Bethlehem

Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop or Chocolate Lake
If you have a sweet tooth like we do, check out Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop or the Chocolate Lab. 

Hotel B Ice Cream Parlor
Get some ice cream at the Hotel B Ice Cream Parlor – Did you know that Penn State University is known for its ice cream? At Hotel B Ice Cream Parlor, you can enjoy a variety of Penn State Creamery’s delicious ice cream flavors. We can’t stop thinking about the Monkey Business – banana ice cream with peanut butter swirls and chocolate chips – but you really can’t go wrong with any of their flavors. We’re already planning our next visit back to try the Alumni Swirl (vanilla ice cream, mocha chips, blueberry swirl), Peachy Paterno, and Death by Chocolate. They also have other desserts like pies, cookies, and cakes.

Get a warm drink or a pastry at Bitty and Beau’s
Bitty and Beau’s is a great cafe that employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You can grab a hot drink to warm up or a frozen hot chocolate to cool down. The cafe also has gluten free options – brownies and cookies when we visited. 

Sites Worth Seeing Near Bethlehem

Walk the Lehigh Millennium Folk Arch and Art Enclave
Nestled into the Lehigh University campus, you’ll find this hidden gem after a short walk through the woods. It’s not your typical park or museum; it’s a unique and enchanting outdoor exhibition of art made from a blend of recycled materials and cement. There are a couple different structures to explore here, so walk around and try to find them all. This area is free to visit and open to the public year-round.

Be prepared for a bit of wilderness (overgrown trail with uneven terrain) and wear comfortable shoes. Parking is a bit tricky here. We visited when the university was on a holiday break and it was completely empty so we parked behind the Alpha Phi sorority house and picked up the trail from the parking lot. The official trail start is at the bottom of the small hill. If you park here, you’ll cross a small wooden bridge, then follow the trail to the artsy area.

Visit the Coplay Kilns
Really this stop was added in to take pictures of the cool old kilns. BUT if you did want to learn about the history of the kilns, there are a couple signs explaining their history and significance. In short, there are a series of nine kilns that were once used in the cement-making process.

Stroll through Saylor Park
The main attraction at Saylor Park is the Coplay Kilns, but if you visit on a nice day it’s worth taking a little stroll or bike ride through the park. Maybe you’ll spot some hidden gems like a vintage railroad car and an old-school phone booth. If you’re looking for a longer trail, you can pick up the ​​​Ironton Rail Trail which is 9 miles long.