Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Announces November 2024 Events

October 29th, 2024

Events include the Historic Turkey Trot 5K & Fun Walk, the Trees of Historic Bethlehem, this year’s final Free Sundays at the Museums, holiday combo events and nine historical tours.

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) is excited to present its November 2024 offerings, including the Historic Turkey Trot 5K, more Free Sundays, various holiday combo ticket events and nine historic tours. Gear up for the holiday season by learning about the rich history of the Christmas City.

“HBMS is looking forward to our first holiday season since the Moravian Church Settlements—Bethlehem World Heritage Site designation,” said LoriAnn Wukitsch, HBMS’s president and CEO. “We have expanded our programming to accommodate the influx of visitors expected to indulge in all the Christmas City offers. We recently joined the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ signature access program, Museums for All, which allows low-income families to visit the Kemerer Museum and the Moravian Museum for only $3, reinforcing HBMS’s commitment to providing enriching and educational experiences accessible to everyone.”

The Historic Turkey Trot 5K & Fun Walk is back on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 9 a.m. This event kicks off the holiday season for runners, walkers, and pets alike. Race through the Colonial Industrial Quarter and the historic streets of Bethlehem, or join in the 1.7 fun walk to enjoy with family, friends and your pooch at your own pace. Event registration is $40 and includes a Turkey Trot tee-shirt, race day refreshments, weekend admission to Trees of Historic Bethlehem, museums and a 10 percent discount at the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe all weekend. Male and female winners receive an HBMS Family Membership; youth participant winners will also be awarded prizes. A Pet Costume Contest will take place at 8:15 a.m. on the main stage. Registration for the pet contest is free, but owners must be registered Turkey Trot participants. The presenting sponsor for this year’s Turkey Trot is Physical Therapy at St. Luke’s.

Free Sundays at the Museums offers visitors complimentary admission to the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts and the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month throughout November. On Sunday, Nov. 3, Kemerer attendees will design and decorate their own paper cone ornament just like those used to decorate trees in the 1800s! At the Moravian Museum, November offers visitors an opportunity to make their own Putz display. A Putz is a traditional Moravian Christmas decoration featuring miniature hand-crafted figurines, including animals, buildings, and people.

Interested sponsors should contact special events manager Beth Beatty at bbeatty@historicbethlehem.org or 610-882-0450 ext. 227 for more information.

The annual Trees of Historic Bethlehem exhibition will be displayed at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, and the Single Sisters’ House from Nov. 21 until Jan. 4, 2025. Decorated by the Bethlehem Garden Club, this year’s Trees reflect cities from across the country without boarding a plane! Journey across the three historic sites where 20 trees display city-themed decorations. A scavenger hunt of World Heritage Sites and National Historic Landmark decorations is available for big and small kids and families. Full museum tours will be offered on the hour at the Kemerer Museum and Moravian Museum. Trees of Historic Bethlehem Tours will be self-guided.

HBMS offers a Christmas City Combo ticket special, which allows entry into the Trees of Historic Bethlehem exhibition across three sites and one entry to Christkindlmarkt at SteelStacks, which begins on Friday, Nov. 15, through Dec. 22. Check online for days and hours. The Christmas City Combo is available for purchase until Dec. 22 for $31.50.

In November, HBMS offers multiple tours for everyone visiting Bethlehem.

• Old Bethlehem Walking Tour shares the 275-year history of Bethlehem’s unique beginnings since 1741 and explores how residents lived and flourished.
• HBMS offers a child-friendly tour for kids two years old and up, Playful Pathways: A Family-friendly Tour of Bethlehem, which shares Bethlehem’s history in a way that keeps guests of all ages entertained and learning.
• Rise & Fall of Bethlehem Steel Walking Tour features up-close views of the former steel plant and an in-depth look at the steel-making process and the workers’ roles in our country’s history.
• Moravian Stories Tour tells guests about Bethlehem’s earliest founders – the Moravians through stories about their community and historic buildings.
• The Colonial Industrial Quarter Tour will show guests how the early Moravians established the largest concentration of crafts and trades in the American Colonies.
• The Apothecary Tour brings guests on a journey through early Moravian medical practices.
  This month’s tours are scheduled for the following dates and times:

• Friday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8:
  • 1 p.m.: Old Bethlehem Walking Tour
  • 1 p.m.: The Rise and Fall of Bethlehem Steel Tour
  • 3 p.m.: Moravian Stories Tour
• Saturday, Nov. 2 and Nov. 9:
  • 11 a.m.: Playful Pathways: A Family-friendly Tour of Bethlehem
  • 1 p.m.: Old Bethlehem Walking Tour
  • 1 p.m.: The Rise and Fall of Bethlehem Steel Tour
  • 3 p.m.: Colonial Industrial Quarter Tour
• Sunday, Nov. 3 and Nov. 10:
  • 1 p.m.: Old Bethlehem Walking Tour
  • 1 p.m.: The Rise and Fall of Bethlehem Steel Tour
  • 3 p.m.: Apothecary Tour

Beginning Nov. 15, HBMS is offering three historic walking tours perfect for the winter season, including the Christmas City Stroll Tour, the Bethlehem by Night Motorcoach Tour, and the Spirits of Christmas Pub Walking Tour.

The Christmas City Stroll Tour, starting Nov. 15, is designed especially for the Christmas season. The tour focuses on cherished traditions: a candle-in-every-window, beeswax candles, the renowned Star of Bethlehem and Moravian Star, the community Putz and more set among Bethlehem’s exquisite Victorian and colonial architecture. It also features two National Historic Landmarks, which are also part of the Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem World Heritage Site: the 1741 Gemeinhaus and 1762 Waterworks. The tour is running until Jan. 4, 2025.

The Bethlehem by Night Motorcoach Tour starts Nov. 29 and explores the history and traditions of the city with tour guides wearing Colonial period attire. Get a glimpse back in time and experience Christmas City like never before. Don’t miss out on visiting the famous star atop South Mountain and the historic highlights of North and South Bethlehem. The tour is running until Dec. 29.

The Spirits of Christmas Pub Walking Tour, starting Nov. 30, is an adult-only experience that runs until Dec. 29. This holiday pub tour invites guests on a journey through the historic gems of Bethlehem, diving into the origins and meanings of the Moravian traditions, adding depth to the holiday experience. One complimentary tasting is included at the start of the tour at the 1810 Goundie House. Attendees have the option of purchasing additional drinks at the other tour stops. Participants must be at least 21 years old and show valid ID.

Interested visitors can book custom or group tours on dates not on the calendar through HBMS’s website.

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