You don’t have to fly to the Old Country to experience an authentic German Christmas market.
The holiday time of year often meanscarols , skirt gong , quick , spiced beverages , and — the less approachable , but as iconic — Christmas marketsthat twinkle across Germany and the rest of Europe each year . For those not planning a trek to another continent this year , your seasonal itinerary can still include a visit to a first-class Christmas market in the Lehigh Valley .
The three - decade - old , German - inspiredChristkindlmarkt Bethlehemtakes piazza each yr in a town with its own Germanic roots and an individuality built around Christmas that stretches back across three centuries . On Christmas Eve 1741 , German Moravian bishop Nicolaus Zinzendorf christened the city Bethlehem . In 1747 , it became thefirst US cityto mutant a decorated Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . It ’s no surprisal then that the pop Christmas finish take in the nicknameChristmas City USAin December 1937 .
reveller flock to Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem each year for gay vacation shopping include handmade humanities , crafts , gifts , and authentic Bavarian decorations from glorify German ornament manufacturerKäthe Wohlfahrt . For 22 years , Käthe Wohlfahrt has set up store at the market with handmadeschwibbogens , nutcrackers , and glass ornaments .
Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem is a three-decade-old holiday market in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.|George Sheldon/Shutterstock
While it ’s loose to spend a fortnight ’s wages on unique ornaments , you’re able to save some time and cash by prefer for special performance ( and an appearance by St. Nicholas ) , or lace up for ice skating atThe Ice Rink at SteelStacks . After form up an appetite , take a severance with strudel , bratwurst , Christmas cooky , and more from local solid food vendors .
Drive time:
1 60 minutes , 50 minutes from NYC1 hour , 20 minutes from Philadelphia4 hour , 50 minutes from Boston
Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem take place at the PNC Plaza at the 10 - acreSteelStackscampus and runs weekend from November 15 through December 22 .
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One more thing to do : Recently destine aNational Historic Landmark District(and one of only eight such districts in Pennsylvania ) , theMoravian Bethlehem Historic Districtis home to over 20 of the oldest surviving buildings in Bethlehem . At the district ’s meat lie theMoravian Museum of Bethlehem , where visitant can take a self - guided tour and explore how the Moravian settlers in the 18th 100 established a community with German architecture . Historic site include the Colonial Industrial Quarter ( the first industrial parking area in the United States ) and the 1752 Apothecary , which was the old pharmacy in continuous functioning in the United States until it shuttered in the 1950s .
One matter to eat : Even if you are n’t staying at theHistoric Hotel Bethlehem , stop by the hotel ’s all - daylight restaurant1741 at the Terracefor a bill of fare with ball - trot dish like Crispy Chicken Lemongrass Potstickers and Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with harissa garlic sauce , cosy selection like Ricotta Gnocchi and Maine Lobster Macaroni and Cheese , plus an extensive wine list and a full saloon attend in a picture - lined dining elbow room overlooking historic Main Street . Do n’t miss the weekly Musical Sunday Brunch or Thursday Night Jazz .
One things to pledge : Close out the evening with abeerfromTally Ho Tavern . In operation since 1933 , this restaurant and saloon has regular live euphony , DJ circle , and karaoke .
Where to stay put : Bethlehem offers plenty of fitting steeped in the town ’s robust chronicle , but the Moravian District’sHistoric Hotel Bethlehemstands out from the rest with the original , restored interior from 1922 have detail like wall painting , palladium window , and beautiful balconies . For the thrill - seekers , the hotel saysfriendly ghostslingerin the boiler room , antechamber , practice session elbow room , and eating house . Book the highly requestedRoom 932 , which reportedly has so much paranormal activity that the hotel invited a extrasensory investigator to spend the Nox there in April 2007 . He reported that he recorded several disembodied voices during his sojourn .
Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem|Discover Lehigh Valley/Flickr
