There’s no better way to celebrate the holiday season than with a visit to Lehigh Valley. Home to Bethlehem, “The Christmas City,” you’ll find countless activities that are ideal for group visits.
Shop at Christkindlmarkt. Recognized as one of the top holiday markets by Travel + Leisure and USA Today 10 Best, Christkindlmarkt features a wide variety of vendors offering gifts of all shapes and sizes. The market is housed in large, heated tents on the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks campus. In addition to free time to browse the various wares, groups can enjoy glassblowing and ice carving demonstrations, all set along the backdrop of the towering blast furnaces of the former Bethlehem Steel plant - lit up red and green to celebrate the holiday season.
Perhaps your group is interested in learning about the history of Bethlehem. Founded on Christmas Eve in 1741, the charming little town offers a unique history that played countless roles in American society. Take a guided walking tour of the city’s Main Street and Colonial Industrial Quarter with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites. Led by costumed guides, these tours give you an inside look at what life in Moravian Bethlehem was like.
When nighttime rolls around, climb aboard for a Bethlehem by Night bus tour. Organized through Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, this tour will take you up South Mountain for a glimpse of the iconic star of Bethlehem, towering over the city at 82 feet high.
While you’re in town, treat your group to a show. Enjoy performances of the Nutcracker at the State Theatre Center for the Arts, Zoellner Arts Center, or Miller Symphony Hall. Early in the holiday season, groups can enjoy Cirque Holidaze on stage at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center. For a show with a local twist, look no further than the annual Christmas City Follies at Bethlehem’s Touchstone Theatre.
For more information on organizing a group visit to Lehigh Valley during the holiday season, contact the Discover Lehigh Valley team.