![\"Christmas](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/70ed702\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/414x233+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fe1%2Fe1%2F3107a85b4bd49f98391945c161de%2Fchristmas-horse-and-carriage-rides-in-bethlehem.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 Tick, tock \u2014 Christmas is coming!<\/p>\n
With just six weeks until the big day, the Lehigh Valley already is sparkling with twinkling lights, festive markets and family traditions \u2014 old and new.<\/p>\n
Whether you prefer to ride through glowing displays, stroll downtowns or craft holiday memories inside, there\u2019s a merry mix of experiences in the region. <\/p>\n
Here are some of the best ways to celebrate Christmas this year.<\/p>\n
Carriage Rides through Historic Bethlehem<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Courtesy<\/p>\n
\/<\/p>\n
Saucon Valley Carriage <\/p>\n
Saucon Valley Carriages offers a horse-drawn carriage ride in Bethlehem during Christmastime. <\/p>\n
You can take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Bethlehem\u2019s twinkling historic district, and choose from elegant White Vis-\u00e0-Vis or Victorian couples carriages, or hop aboard Santa\u2019s sleigh. <\/p>\n
Reservations are required, and tickets start at $29 per person for sleigh rides and $93 for private rides. <\/p>\n
The rides run every 20 minutes from 3 to 9 p.m. daily through Jan. 3. <\/p>\n
To reserve a spot, visit the Bethlehem Carriage Company website.<\/a><\/p>\n Christkindlmarkt<\/p>\n Micaela Hood <\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n Ornaments of the Star of Bethlehem is depicted in various sizes at Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem. <\/p>\n Now in its 33rd year, ArtsQuest’s beloved holiday market returns with hundreds of vendors selling handmade gifts from artisans, plus German food and drinks, and live music. <\/p>\n This year’s new Winter Wonderland will transform the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks lawn \u2014 formerly the site of a holiday-season ice-skating rink \u2014 into an expanded holiday village.<\/p>\n The village has new attractions such as a “smart” Christmas tree, rentable heated igloos and a St. Nicholas Haus \u2014 an area redesigned with Bavarian-inspired d\u00e9cor. <\/p>\n It opens Friday, Nov. 14, and runs Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 21.<\/p>\n It opens Friday, Nov. 14, and runs on Thursdays through Sundays through Sunday, Dec. 21.<\/p>\n Hours are: Free Friday admission from 5 to 8 p.m., then paid admission 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.<\/p>\n Advance tickets, at $12 per person (free for ages 5 and younger) on Thursdays and Fridays and $14.50 for Saturdays and Sundays, are available on the Artsquest website.<\/a><\/p>\n Info: Check out the Christkindlmarkt website<\/a>. <\/p>\n Trees of Historic Bethlehem: Best of the Past 20 Years<\/p>\n Stephanie Sigafoos<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n For the first time in more than a decade, Historic Hotel Bethlehem worked with a new interior designer to deck the halls. Interior Designer Anthony Sierra, of GailGray Home Furnishings and Interior Design, and his design partner Ty Cundey spent weeks transforming the iconic location into a winter wonderland.<\/p>\n The self-guided tour lets visitors stroll through 28 themed trees inspired by art, history and culture.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s edition revisits fan-favorite designs from the past two decades.<\/p>\n The tour starts at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts (427 N. New St.), daily Friday, Nov. 14-Monday, Jan. 12.<\/p>\n Tickets, which include entrance to both exhibitions, are $25 for adults, $23 for teachers and military members and $14 for ages 4 and older. Ages 3 and younger are admitted free. <\/p>\n For tickets, visit the Christmas Tree tour page.<\/a> <\/p>\n Christmas City Village (Weihnachtsmarkt)<\/p>\n The Christmas City Village, in the Sun Inn Courtyard (564 Main St., Bethlehem) features more than 20 wooden vendor huts and a Christmas City Spirits beverage tent and food truck from Tavern at the Sun. <\/p>\n The free-entry market is open from noon to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. It runs from Friday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Dec. 21. <\/p>\n Santa Claus will be on-site from 1-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. <\/p>\n Visitors also can enjoy cocktails from Christmas City Spirits, food from the Tavern at the Sun Inn and live music, and meet Santa on Saturdays and Sundays. <\/p>\n To learn more, visit the Sun Inn’s events page.<\/a><\/p>\n Christmas City Stroll, motorcoach ride<\/p>\n Donna S. Fisher<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n For LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n The Bethlehem star shines from South Mountain on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The star recently received an upgrade of 238 LED lights that have made it more brilliant. City electricians say the new lights will last more than a decade. <\/p>\n Led by a costumed guide dressed in 18th-century Colonial attire, the Christmas City Stroll invites you to step back in time as you explore Bethlehem\u2019s landmarks. <\/p>\n Along the way, you\u2019ll visit the 1741 Gemeinhaus \u2014 the oldest surviving building in Bethlehem \u2014 the elegant Central Moravian Church, built in the early 1800s, and the Colonial Industrial Quarter, recognized as the country’s first industrial center and home to more than 50 bustling trades during the mid-1700s.<\/p>\n Tickets to the tour cost $20 for adults, $18 for teachers and military, and $12 for children. <\/p>\n The tour leaves from the Groundie House Welcome Center at 501 Main St. <\/p>\n It will run daily from Friday, Nov. 14, to Jan. 4. <\/p>\n If you\u2019d rather enjoy the sights from the warmth and comfort of indoors, the Bethlehem by Night Motorcoach Tour offers another way to experience the holiday season. <\/p>\n You can sit back aboard a coach bus as a guide leads you past the city\u2019s illuminated landmarks, sharing stories and insights about Bethlehem\u2019s Moravian heritage. <\/p>\n The motorcoach tour runs on select nights starting Friday, Nov. 29, through Wednesday, Dec. 31. <\/p>\n Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for teachers\/military members, and $20 for children. <\/p>\n For information on the tours, visit the Historic Bethlehem Museum & Sites Christmas City page.<\/a><\/p>\n Central Moravian Christmas Putz<\/p>\n A beloved Christmas City tradition, the Central Moravian Christmas Putz tells the Nativity story through handcrafted figurines and miniature landscapes. <\/p>\n \u201cPutz\u201d comes from the German word putzen, meaning \u201cto decorate,\u201d and the display is filled with tiny details of the Moravians’ Christmas story. <\/p>\n Grace Oddo<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n The Christmas decorations in the lobby of Historic Hotel Bethlehem, designed by Anthony Sierra and design partner Ty Cundey.<\/p>\n Guests are guided through scenes illuminated with music and narration.<\/p>\n It will be open Nov. 28-Dec. 31.<\/p>\n Hours are 1\u20137 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.\u20138 p.m. Saturdays and 1\u20135 p.m. Sundays. It will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. after Christmas Day.<\/p>\n The display is inside the Christian Education Building, 40 W. Church St.<\/p>\n No tickets needed for the Putz, but a freewill offering will be accepted.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n Winter Light Spectacular<\/p>\n More than 1.2 million lights will transform Lehigh Valley Zoo into a glowing wonderland, complete with holiday music, Santa visits and festive food and drinks. <\/p>\n There also are multiple fire pits, live appearances by popular Disney characters such as Elsa, Anna, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella and Rapunzel, plus visits and photos with Santa. <\/p>\n Olivia Marble<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n Lights at the Winter Light Spectacular.<\/p>\n The event, now in its 12th year, serves as the zoo’s annual fundraiser.<\/p>\n Hours will be:<\/p>\n 5-9 p.m. Fridays and Sundays, and 5-10 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 305-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday Dec. 3-4 and Dec. 10-11 and Monday and Tuesday Dec. 15 and 165-10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, Dec. 12-Jan. 3 and Mondays through Thursdays through Dec. 30.It won’t be held on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.<\/p>\n Tickets start at $16 for adults and $14 for children (VIP experiences are also available). <\/p>\n For tickets and download a map, visit the zoo’s webpage.<\/a><\/p>\n Illumination Holiday Lights<\/p>\n Visitors can walk through dazzling lights \u2014 1.5 million in total \u2014 that include tunnels and giant animated displays synced to holiday music inside the Iron Pigs’ annual holiday event. <\/p>\n Presented by Service Electric,<\/a> this year’s calendar features a Santa Night on Dec. 5 with the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck, a \u201cFill Santa\u2019s Sleigh\u201d toy drive on Dec. 13 to benefit IronPigs Charities, a cozy pajama party with goat guests on Dec. 19, and a family-friendly New Year\u2019s Eve celebration capped with fireworks on Dec. 31.<\/p>\n Donna S. Fisher<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n For LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are hosting Illumination, a display of brilliant lights throughout Coca-Cola Park as they start the holiday season with a media preview on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Photography by Donna S. Fisher<\/p>\n Theme-nights will include Lights and Leashes, which will return Nov. 16, Dec. 3, Dec. 17 and Dec. 30. <\/p>\n This year’s new additions include carousel rides and hayrides with Mrs. Claus, curling lanes, photo ops with the Grinch and Cousin Eddie, expanded selfie stations and food menus, a new heating tent and a larger Santa’s Polar Express train. <\/p>\n Illumination will run nightly for 41 dates. Unless noted, hours will be 6-9 p.m:<\/p>\n Nov. 14-16, 21-23, 26, 28-29 (5-9 p.m.) and 30.Dec. 2-7; 6, 9-12, 13 and 20 (5-9 p.m.), 21-30 and 30 (5-8 p.m.)Jan. 2-3<\/p>\n To buy tickets, visit the Illumination website.<\/a><\/p>\n Colorful Christmas at Crayola Experience<\/p>\n Brian Myszkowski<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n Marine Corporal Edwin Milanes poses with 8-year-old Ada McGinnis of Bethlehem, the green Crayola crayon, and McGinnis’s yield from her run after the ’64 Seconds of Color Shopping Spree.’<\/p>\n For a burst of holiday color, visit Crayola Experience (30 Centre Square, Easton) during the holiday season. <\/p>\n Kids can meet Santa Crayon, create one-of-a-kind holiday crafts, and explore hands-on art activities across four floors. <\/p>\n Activities include decorating ornaments, designing custom crayons, festive photo ops, themed scavenger hunts, a singing Christmas tree and a painting class with Edwin the Snowman. <\/p>\n It will be open daily from Nov. 22 to Jan. 5. <\/p>\n To buy tickets, visit Crayola Experience’s event page.<\/a><\/p>\n Lights in the Parkway<\/p>\n A Lehigh Valley holiday tradition, Lights in the Parkway invites families to experience a 1.5-mile drive through animated displays, themed tunnels and whimsical holiday displays. <\/p>\n You can stay warm in your vehicle as you pass through millions of twinkling lights synchronized to Christmas tunes. <\/p>\n The trip ends at Santa’s Village, where families can meet Santa, shop for souvenirs and buy holiday treats. <\/p>\n The event also will celebrate other holiday traditions, including Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. <\/p>\n The Move It Mondays series also will return, where visitors can walk, bike or stroll through the displays.<\/p>\n The parkway will be closed to vehicles Dec. 1, Dec. 8, Dec. 15, Dec. 22, Dec. 29, Jan. 5 and Jan. 6 (an additional walking day on Tuesday).<\/p>\n It will be open 5:30\u201310 p.m. Nov. 28 through Jan. 6.<\/p>\n![\"Christkindlmarkt](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/f5332a0\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4031x2267+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F66%2F3e5bdf904707a882cf8b60972ada%2Fimg-0091.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Hotel](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/85bf77f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1280x720+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F63%2F1f%2F0adb46ff4c96a88d0bde068a3690%2Fhotel-bethlehem-glittery-tree.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Bethlehem](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/f7c3872\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4200x2363+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F6aa3f37446dda18cc165813b4266%2Fbethlehem-star.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Historic](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/e4a7863\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x360+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F1f%2Ff5%2F8d5041a44a56bf1f99ec1037aeda%2Fchristmas-display.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/8f8f7da\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3881x2183+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fae%2Fea%2F55e4806d47339f382985046158ad%2Fimg-4654.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"IronPigs](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/e951e71\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3600x2025+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F40%2F02%2F693bf2584b989b00ea7627539919%2F111424-coca-cola-park-lights-dsf-017.JPG\")
<\/p>\n![\"IMG_5387.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/4ff77aa\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4032x2268+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F54%2Fae%2F26e0343e4ba3ae4824c78c13e15c%2Fimg-5387.jpg\")
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![\"candle1.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/15a5484\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3022x2266+0+0\/resize\/880x660!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F9b%2F6a%2Ffe82ab7946f8a3958c8ed1afb548%2Fcandle1.jpg\")
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