The Historic town of Bethlehem, PA is the place to be this holiday season with a live Advent calendar, free Santa photos, and all the Christkindl market shopping you can handle

With Halloween in the rearview mirror and Mariah Carrey blasting from every radio station, now is the time when we snuggle up and fully immerse ourselves in the holiday spirit. The historic town of Bethlehem, PA (also known as “The Christmas City”) is the place to be during the holiday season, and its history as the holiday hot spot goes way back to 1747 as the first town in the U.S. to have a Christmas tree.

Families who visit during the month of December will find the only live Advent calendar in the U.S. The calendar will kick off its 15th year on December 1, and this unique calendar is a free, family-friendly event that takes place every night at 5:30 p.m. until December 23.

Town of Bethlehem

During this theatrical event, the town crier will ring a bell up and down Main Street to call visitors. A child from the crowd will be invited to come and knock three times at a local business where a surprise will be revealed.

Nancy Swolensky

Visitors to Bethlehem during the months of November and December will find loads of other holiday activities like horse-drawn carriage rides, the annual tree lighting ceremony, and free pictures with Santa on Saturdays.

David Happel

Shop the Christkindl Market for all your holiday wares from wreaths to ornaments to handmade toys for the kids. Beginning November 10, the market will be open Thursdays-Sundays through December 24. Then travel down to the Colonial Industrial Quarter where you will find Christmas Cabanas and additional festive activities.

Hotel Bethlehem

If you choose to stay for a few days of festivities (who could blame you?), the Historic Hotel Bethlehem is where you’ll want to lay your head. Extravagantly decorated for the holidays, the hotel has suites that will sleep your whole family and even a friendly ghost or two.

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