Bethlehem has been called Christmas City USA since 1937, a nickname that traces back to Christmas Eve 1741 when Moravian settlers singing a hymn chose the name Bethlehem for their new settlement. Nearly three centuries later, the city earns that title every single holiday season, and Christkindlmarkt is a big reason why.
A European Tradition, Lehigh Valley Style
Modeled after the traditional Christmas markets of Germany and Austria, Christkindlmarkt has been running for over 33 years at PNC Plaza at SteelStacks. The setting alone is worth the visit. Imagine browsing handcrafted ornaments and sipping hot chocolate while the massive illuminated blast furnaces of the old Bethlehem Steel plant tower behind you. No other Christmas market in America has a backdrop like that.
The 2025 edition set a new attendance record: 145,552 holiday shoppers, up nearly 14 percent from the previous year. Nearly 170 vendors, crafters, and artisans from 14 states and international locations fill the market with everything from hand-blown glass ornaments to wool scarves to custom jewelry. Germany's Kathe Wohlfahrt, a premier German Christmas ornament company, has attended 23 consecutive years.
The Experience
The food is half the reason people come back year after year. German bratwurst, apple strudel, Christmas cookies, hot toddies, and all manner of seasonal treats fill the air with the kind of aromas that make you forget it is 35 degrees outside. The igloo rentals have become wildly popular, offering private two hour experiences with comfortable seating, an Amish fireplace, a Bethlehem branded blanket, and hot chocolate. They sell out most weekends.
Christkindlmarkt runs from mid November through late December, typically Thursday through Sunday. Friday evenings from 5 to 8 PM are free admission, making it accessible to families on a budget. The rest of the time, a small admission fee supports the nonprofit programming that ArtsQuest provides year round.
Christmas City Earned
Bethlehem claims the first documented decorated Christmas tree in America. Between the star on South Mountain, the Moravian putz displays, the candlelight walking tours, and Christkindlmarkt, this city does not just celebrate Christmas. It owns it. If you have not made the trip to the market, put it on your calendar this November. It is the real deal.
