Christkindlmarkt
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So Much More Than a Holiday Destination
Celebrating 28 years this year, Christkindlmarkt, Presented by Univest Financial®, is a one-of-a-kind family event that brings Bethlehem alive with the spirit of the season. Twice recognized as one of the best holiday markets in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure, this heart-warming holiday event features:
- Handmade works by more than 50 of the nation’s finest artisans.
- The ring-ting-tingling sounds of live Christmas music and jolly, old St. Nick’s hearty laughter.
- Käthe Wohlfahrt, offering handmade ornaments, nutcrackers and collectibles from Germany.
- Cooking with St. Nicholas, via Zoom select days in November (additional ticket required).
For 2020, the event has undergone a major transformation. Gone are the four large tents on SteelStacks’ PNC Plaza and in is a spacious, new layout highlighted by artisans and artists’ huts spread across the SteelStacks campus, coupled with the unique holiday décor and lighting of Rileighs Outdoor Décor. When the market opens in autumn, it will offer a fall festival flair, while November’s arrival will usher in a variety of holiday programming as it takes on the feel of an outdoor German market.
Christkindlmarkt 2020 season begins on Thursday, October 8 and runs weekends until December 6! Click here to view the schedule.
From stunning fine art photos of the Christmas City to handmade Moravian glass stars, Christkindlmarkt 2020 will offer a one-of-a-kind shopping experience that focuses on handmade gifts crafted by local and regional artisans, as well as holiday décor and collectibles offered by some of the region’s top Christmas vendors. Artisans appearing at the market in October will feature autumn-themed gifts and home décor, while merchants taking part in November will offer a variety of fine art, gifts and collectibles perfect for the holidays.
While many artisans and vendors will be in attendance all eight weeks, participating vendors will change regularly, offering patrons a different experience every weekend. The full list of vendors will be announced later this month.
Once the calendar flips to November, Christkindlmarkt will take on a distinct holiday feel as the event celebrates St. Nicholas’ arrival on Sat., Nov. 7. The jolly, old man will be on hand for special story times and socially distanced photos on Saturdays, while Sundays will feature new virtual “Cooking with St. Nicholas” events for families via Zoom.
Safety Guidelines and Regulations
The health and safety of our patrons, vendors and everyone attending Christkindlmarkt is of the utmost importance to ArtsQuest and we have established a number of best practices and procedures based on guidelines from the CDC, City of Bethlehem and our state. These include practicing safe social distancing; requiring staff, volunteers, vendors and patrons to wear facemasks in all indoor and outdoor areas except when eating and drinking; following event capacity guidelines established by the Commonwealth; and greatly expanding and enhancing our cleaning and disinfecting procedures throughout the event. All vendors are also required to adhere to all safety guidelines put in place for the event. Complete details on COVID-19 health and safety practices for ArtsQuest and our patrons can be found at SteelStacks.org.
Out of State Guests
In accordance with regulations set by the state of Pennsylvania, anyone who will cross state lines in order to attend the event must have a negative COVID-19 test registered within 72 hours prior to entering Pennsylvania. If a negative test isn’t available or possible, attendees are expected to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the state. Patrons with any questions regarding how these guidelines might affect their attendance at ArtsQuest-produced events should contact our Box Office at tickets@artsquest.org.
Purchase Tickets in Advance
Due to state restrictions on crowd size, a limited number of tickets are available per session each day, so we cannot guarantee admission to guests who do not purchase tickets in advance. There will be an additional $4 in service and cleaning fees on tickets purchased at the door.
Buy Tickets
Trip Guide
From parking to some tips on how to maximize your shopping experience, we've got you covered!
View the Trip Guide
Check out all our Merchants
One-of-a-kind, thoughtful gifts is the name of the game at Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem. With hundreds of merchants, you'll be sure to find that perfect gift!
View Merchants
Artist/Craftsperson Application
Applications for 2020 are closed. For more information please email crafters@artsquest.org.
