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Morning Call: Historic Bethlehem revamps Christmas plans this year, introduces more outdoor activities as pandemic continues
October 22nd, 2020 | In The News
Written by Christina Tatu for The Morning Call
As the holidays approach, this year’s pandemic means many of the festivities people enjoy could be canceled, but Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is still planning on bringing the Christmas City alive with old favorites like horse-drawn carriage rides, a Christmas City stroll walking tour and live Advent calendar.
Several new events have also been announced, including Christmas festivities in the city’s Colonial Industrial Quarter and the Burnside Greens Sale & Market at Burnside Plantation.
Historic Bethlehem typically brings in about 25% of its annual revenues during the holiday season, said LoriAnn Wukitsch, the organization’s vice president and managing director. She is hopeful the new events will help make up for bus tours that had to be canceled this year because of the pandemic.
“We are just shifting our focus to having family-friendly, safe activities. People can come and enjoy the history of their community outside, and quite frankly they are going to learn just as much about our history as they would on a motor coach,” Wukitsch said. “If the community comes out and celebrates Christmas in a way that is safe and appropriate during these difficult times, there’s no sense in not creating joy and happiness this holiday season.”
For more information and to buy tickets, go to the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites website. Some of the crafts available for sale at the events will also be listed on the Historic Bethlehem store.
New this year
Christmas in the Quarter: Each weekend from Nov. 6 through Dec. 27, the city’s Colonial Industrial Quarter will include holiday shopping, winter art exhibits, family photo opportunities, live music, crafts and children’s activities. Specialty workshops with Marche Maison and Domaci will be available with limited registration. For the first time, the historic buildings in the quarter will be illuminated in Christmas lights. Parking is available on site at 459 Old York Road and in the Spring Street lot. Activities run 2-8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.
Burnside Greens Sale and Market: Visit Burnside Plantation on Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 28 through Dec. 13 to find Christmas trees, wreaths, swags and other hand-crafted decorations. There will be historic cooking demonstrations, family photo opportunities, barrel roll races, crafts and games. The market is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a $5 suggested family donation. Burnside Plantation is at 1461 Schoenersville Road with parking available onsite.
Visitor center and museum store: The visitor center and museum store will feature Christmas cookies, including the popular Groman’s Moravian Sugar Cookies, kiffles, nut tossies and nut strudels and signature Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites chocolates from Highland Chocolates in Wellsboro.
Old favorites
Horse-drawn carriage rides: Each carriage is $75 to reserve for a group of up to four adults and two children sitting on laps. The carriages depart from Main Street in Bethlehem in front of the Central Moravian Church and go through the city’s downtown. Rides leave every 20 minutes 3-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday from Nov. 27 to Dec. 27. They run every day Dec. 28-31.
Christmas City stroll walking tour : Take a walk through downtown Historic Bethlehem with a certified guide in period clothing. Discover the story of Bethlehem’s beginning in 1741, the tales of a candle in every window and the renowned Bethlehem Star. Highlights include Bethlehem’s Victorian and colonial architecture, including two national landmarks. The outdoor tour includes a walk-through of the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem. Tours run 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday Nov. 2-Dec. 30; they also run at 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Tours leave from the Historic Bethlehem Visitor Center at 505 Main St. Each tour is limited to 10 people and masks must be worn. The cost is $15 for adults, $6 for children and $10 for members.
Live Advent calendar: Visitors can gather at 5:30 p.m. daily Dec. 1-23 outside the door of the 1810 Goundie House, 501 Main St., for a live Advent calendar. Each day, a designated audience member will knock on the door and a different local business will be behind the door to provide a treat to all. The event is in partnership with the Downtown Bethlehem Association.
