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Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ Fall Fun Bucket List
October 4th, 2017 |
By Guest Blogger: Christina Crawford
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Go outside to enjoy the crisp air
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Walk around downtown Bethlehem to see fall foliage
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Go on a haunted tour to celebrate Halloween
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Run or walk a 5K
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Decorate a pumpkin
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Do a fall craft activity day
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Spend time with friends and family
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Learn fun facts about your town
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Give thanks for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites for maintaining 20 historic landmarks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania!
It’s finally fall! The cool, crisp air is here, and soon the trees will come alive with fall foliage that displays an exuberant array of reds, oranges, yellows, and other rich colors.
Fall is full of wonderful things from apple picking to apples pies, pumpkin patches to Halloween, mums, Thanksgiving, and so much more!
Keep reading to find out all of HBMS’ favorite things to add to your fall bucket list!
Spooky Tours Around Town
Looking for a frightfully fun time this October? Get spooky and treat yourself to the Death & Dying Cemetery Tour, which explores God’s Acre, Bethlehem’s oldest cemetery.
Led by a guide dressed in traditional Moravian attire, this tour takes you through the 1741 Gemeinhaus, a National Historic Landmark.
Enjoy the fall air and stroll through God’s Acre and hear the life stories of some of the people who lived in Bethlehem all those years ago!
Tours take place Friday – Sunday, October 1- November 12 at 5 pm, leaving from the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem at 66 W. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018.
Fall Fun Fact 1: The 1741 Gemeinhaus is the oldest standing building in the city!
Fall Fun Fact 2: Did you know that Moravians played a specific hymn to announce death? They had a completely different attitude toward death than we do today. Moravians believed that they were going home to be united with their Savior.
Fall Fun Fact 3: All the headstones in God’s Acre cemetery are flat and similar in size to indicate all are equal in death.
Fall in Love with Running
What is another great thing about fall? Fall running!
And, the Turkey Trot 5K Run & Fun Walk is just around the corner! This race is a fun family event. It’s always a fun atmosphere; create your own fun costumes, bring the family and the dog and burn off all that turkey, stuffing, and pie from Thanksgiving! Humans don’t get all the fun – dress your furry friend in a fabulous costume and enter the Best Pet Costume Contest!
Family-Fun Farm Tours at Burnside Plantation
Get your pumpkin fix at Burnside Plantation! Pumpkin fun for all ages.
Join us at the Open Gate Farm Tour for:
- Free guided tours of the Burnside House & Barn
- Pumpkin painting
- Delicious colonial cooking demonstrations
- Kids’ crafts & games
- Learn about what lives in the Monocacy from Monocacy Creek Watershed Association (MCWA) members
- Check out MCWA’s Enviroscape, an interactive model that allows people to better understand the sources and prevention of water pollution
When: Sunday, October 15 from 1-4 pm
Where: Burnside Plantation, 1461 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem
Cost: FREE
Fall Fun Fact 4: Burnside Plantation was established in 1748 as the first privately owned home of the Bethlehem Moravians, James and Mary Burnside.
Fall Fun Fact 5: Burnside Plantation features one of only two operating horse-powered wheels in the country.
Dare To Be Gilded? You Won’t Be The Only One Going All Out This October!
HBMS is going glam and breaking out all of our most opulent and ornate artifacts from our vault! Explore this dazzling world of brilliant craftsmanship and luxury items, including: Bohemian gold enameled glassware, sterling silver tableware, mercury glass, Count Zinzendorf’s crystal cuff links, pieces from Annie Kemerer’s collection gold etched glass, 19th Century gold Tiffany & Co. purse with original receipt, and crafted jewelry and spoons by Bethlehem-based silversmiths…And that isn’t even everything there is to see!
Gilded runs from October 6, 2017– March 11, 2018. Here you will get an intimate look at how the concept of luxury has evolved over time at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, Moravian Museum, and 1810 Goundie House!
Plus, be the first to see Historic Bethlehem’s most glamorous and shiny collection objects at the Gilded Opening Reception on Thursday, October 5. Then, hear from Local Spotlight Artist Sergei Yaralov and discover his artistic process for creating brilliant paintings while enjoying some wine and light refreshments. Space is limited! Reserve your spot today!
At the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, Encounter the impressive gilded artifacts from Moravian families. Here is where you’ll see the crystal cufflinks of Count Zinzendorf and a recently donated hand-painted tea set that has been passed down through generations of a notable Moravian family.
At the Goundie House, step into the studio of silversmith J. Carroll Tobias and view photographs of his studio, which has been located in the basement of the Goundie House for nearly decades. See all of his sketches, the jewelry he created, and learn about his connection to Mr. Goundie himself!
Ready to be gilded? You won’t want to miss the upcoming Gilded Events and Programs:
- Gilded Workshop Series: Paint & Sip – Thursday, January 18, 2018 from 6-8 pm at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts (Inclement weather date: Thursday, February 22, 2018)
- Gilded Jewelry Trunk Show – Sunday, October 29 from 12-3 pm at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
- Gilded Workshop Series: Make Your Own Faux Mercury Glass – Thursday, November 9, 2017 from 6-8 pm at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
- Gilded Workshop Series: Gold Leaf Workshop – Thursday, February 8, 2018 from 6-8 pm at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
Fall Fun Fact 6: Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf is the benefactor of the early Moravians
Fall Fun Fact 7: Bohemian glassware began in the Czech Republic in the 14th century, but it wasn’t until the 19th century the gold enamels were used on the colorful glassware. This enameling is what sparked the luxury and ideals of the time!
Fall Fun Fact 8: Kids will enjoy the enchantment of Gilded too! HBMS Kid’s Club is offering a program, “Gilded Picture Frames” where kids will use metallic gold embellishments to decorate their very own shiny picture frame to take home. Kids will get enchanted by the stories of gold frames and the magic of the artwork inside the frame.
When: Sunday, October 29 from 1-3 pm
Where: Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
Cost: FREE for members; Non-Members: $10 (Free for Kids (17 and under) with purchase of adult admission ticket.)
Fall Means Christmas Is Near!
Fall Fun Fact: In 1937, the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce declared Bethlehem, PA as “Christmas City, USA.”
Okay. I know it may be a tad bit too early to mention the word Christmas but when you live in Christmas City, it’s hard not to mention Bethlehem and Christmas in the same sentence!
Here’s a sneak peek for this Christmas season at HBMS:
- Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides – There’s no better way to explore the sights and sounds of the season in downtown Bethlehem!
- Bethlehem By Night Bus Tours – If you prefer bus tours as opposed to carriage rides then you’re in luck. Guides in period attire will educate you about the Christmas history and traditions of Bethlehem.
- Trees of Historic Bethlehem – Explore gilded Christmas trees from around the world! View splendid decorations like ornate ornaments and pearl clusters on the trees.
- Holiday Wassail Open House – Join HBMS Friday, November 24, from 5-6:30 pm for the 2nd annual tree lighting ceremony at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts. It’s a wonderful way to kick off the season!
- Live Advent Calendar – Join HBMS everyday from December 1-23 at 5:30 pm at the 1810 Goundie House for this 11th annual tradition.
- And it wouldn’t be Christmas at Historic Bethlehem without Moravian sugar cookies and Christmas kiffles! Ordering details coming soon!
- Don’t forget to check out all the fun activities for kids too with HBMS Kid’s Club!
Don’t miss celebrating the season with HBMS where Christmas comes to life in our town of Bethlehem. You will see why we are Christmas City, U.S.A. We have everything from horse-drawn carriage rides to Trees of Historic Bethlehem – Gilded Christmas trees from around the world.
Keep checking out the website for more details as the holiday season approaches!
Happy fall!
