No holiday visit to the Christmas City is complete without a stop at Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, ranked one of the top holiday markets by Travel + Lesiure and USA Today 10 Best. Located at SteelStacks, this holiday market is housed in large, heated tents to make for a comfortable shopping experience. For 2016, the market has nearly doubled in size, expanding from two tents to four. Christkindlmarkt features more than 120 vendors offering gifts of every shape and size.
Among the vendors, you'll find Käthe Wohlfahrt, bringing you Christmas authentic holiday decor straight from Germany. Among the wares offered, you'll find nutcrackers, incense smokers, pyramids, schwibbogens (candle arches) and hundreds of stunning ornaments.
Christkindlmarkt also features handmade items by local artisans including jewelry, home decor, treats for pets, crafts, food items, art, photography and so much more. Don't miss the ArtsQuest Glass Studio where you can purchase handmade blown glass ornaments, or even make one yourself.
All that shopping will certainly have you working up an appetite. Enjoy treats from a variety of food vendors on-site. You can even grab a drink from the bar to enjoy while you shop! While you're enjoying a quick snack break, kick back to enjoy performances by local musicians, choirs, and carolers.
And don't forget to bring along the kids for a visit with St. Nicholas himself! In addition to meet and greets with photo packages available, Christkindlmarkt also offers a Breakfast with St. Nicholas experience which includes a tasty meal, admission to the market, goody bags, and more.
Christkindlmarkt continues Thursdays - Sundays through December 18 on the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem. On-site parking is available free of charge. Admission is $9 for adults; $8 for seniors; $5 for children ages 12 & under. Season passes are also available, and pay for themselves if you plan on visiting two or more times!
Full details on Christkindlmarkt are available here.