“Christmas City, USA” Is The Most Festive Town In America For A European-Like Holiday Trip

December 22nd, 2024 | In The News

By Jade Poleon

The US has a multitude of towns and cities that take the holiday season very seriously. Take, for example, the Midwest town in Indiana, whose name showcases its dedication to Christmas. You also don’t need to look too hard to find exceptional festive displays, and the Christmas town in North Carolina is a fine example of a holiday display, boasting 375,000 lights.

Yes, many towns and cities across the country love the festive season, and the ‘Christmas City’ in Pennsylvania is undoubtedly one of them. Not only does the Pennsylvanian town, known as ‘Christmas City USA,’ evoke a sense of European Christmas nostalgia, but its name is appropriate for its theme.

The small town of Bethlehem is nestled in the scenic Lehigh Valley and is well known for its unique European-inspired atmosphere, which can be experienced during the Christmas Season. With authentic European Christmas markets and unparalleled Christmas cheer to rival any traditional German Christmas Market, it’s no wonder ‘Christmas City’ earned itself the perfect festive nickname.

Bethlehem’s Deep Connection To The Holidays Earned It The Title Of ‘Christmas City, USA’

Home to America’s first-ever decorated Christmas tree, Bethlehem has a long-standing connection to all things festive, which can still be experienced to this day

Christmas is a time to celebrate when festive joy appears like magic as soon as the calendar turns to December. Suddenly, lights, trees, and nativity displays start to appear, and people become merrier, so it is no wonder many places around the US seriously consider their Christmas attractions.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is among the best towns in America, with European Christmas villages and a deeply rooted connection to Christmas traditions.

The town was named Bethlehem in 1741, after the place where Jesus was born, but this is not the only connection to Christmas. Interestingly enough, the town is known as ‘Christmas City’ because it was the home to the first documented decorated Christmas tree in the US, which is certainly a claim to fame.

The nickname was established in 1937 and has stuck ever since. Today, the city lives up to its name. During the festive season, Bethlehem glimmers with festive spirit. It features some of the best European Christmas markets in the country, alongside Chicago’s “Wiener Christkindlmarkt” of the United States, another popular option.

Christmas City In Pennsylvania Lives Up To Its Name With Incredible European Christmas Markets

The Christmas markets are the main event in Bethlehem. They offer traditional food offerings, collectibles from Germany, and handcrafted goods to buy for loved ones

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, residents work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure a vibrant Christmas experience. Visitors to the town can enjoy a magical Christmas experience, and one of the main elements of this is the iconic European-style Christmas Markets or Christkindlmarkt, which feature an array of vendors selling handcrafted goods and delicious treats.

These authentic Christmas markets will make you feel like you are celebrating the holiday season in a traditional European town, and you can even try some festive food and drinks. This one-of-a-kind, family-friendly event is a spectacular thing to do. It makes for a great Europe-like holiday, especially if you have always wanted to experience a real European Christmas.

Here, you can buy traditional German collectibles, listen to live Christmas music, meet the jolly man himself, and soak up the festive cheer that ‘Christmas City’ is known for. If that wasn’t enough, Bethlehem’s signature event, ‘The Winter Lights Spectacular‘ at Lehigh Valley Zoo, dazzles spectators with over a million twinkling lights, adding to the overall atmosphere.

Unmissable Christmas Events In ‘Christmas City’ For A Europe-Like Festive Trip

Rivaling even the most festive Christmas towns in Europe, Christmas City boasts plenty of festive cheer, events, and family-friendly activities to keep you entertained during your holiday trip

Christmas City in Pennsylvania is a one-stop shop for all ages to enjoy everything related to Christmas. From horse-drawn carriage rides and visits to Santa to strolling around the German-inspired Christmas markets, visiting Bethlehem during the holidays will evoke European Christmas vibes.

There are so many exciting festive events; here are some of the best.

Bethlehem by Night Bus Tour

If you want to sit back and enjoy the festivities while getting a perfect view of the surrounding lights, then this night tour is the ultimate activity. The hour-long tour will be an unforgettable experience and is a fantastic, family-friendly thing to do in Bethlehem.

Trees of Historic Bethlehem

This is one of the best things to do at Christmas in Bethlehem, where you can journey across three historic sites with a display of 20 Christmas trees. In addition, you can join in on a fun scavenger hunt for ornaments that highlight World Heritage Sites and National Historic Landmarks throughout the country.

Christmas City Village

This free Christmas event is necessary for anyone seeking an authentic European-style Christmas experience.

You can visit an array of traditional wooden huts, as seen in many European cities, like Munich, Strasbourg, or Vienna. These holiday-themed wooden huts add to the festive atmosphere and are a great place to pick up traditional gifts and gadgets.

Christkindlmarkt

Of course, one of the main things to do in ‘Christmas City’ is to experience the traditional European Christmas markets. These markets will make you feel like you are in a traditional European town, rivaling Europe’s most festive Christmas markets. So leave your passport behind and go to the Christkindlmarkt for a unique, fun-filled experience.

Therefore, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has earned the nickname ‘Christmas City, USA’. With annual events that rival the most festive European towns, this is a place where you can enjoy an authentic Europe-style holiday trip without the need to jet off on an expensive transatlantic flight.

This charming Pennsylvania town is a perfect addition to the long list of the best festive small towns with the best Christmas Markets, and if you get the chance to experience them, you should.

Read the article on The Travel website.

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