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The Morning Call: Historic Bethlehem to kick off holiday events, including Christmas in the Quarter, live advent calendar and new horse-drawn trolley rides
November 11th, 2021 | In The News
Written by Ryan Kneller for The Morning Call
Christmas offerings will launch Nov. 19 and continue through Jan. 9, the nonprofit organization announced Wednesday. Visitors will be able to experience Moravian traditions and partake in new additions, including the Christmas City Stroll Walking Tour, Bethlehem by Night Motorcoach Tour, Live Advent Calendar and, new for 2021, horse-drawn trolley rides. Added to the line-up in 2020, Christmas in the Quarter will also be returning in December for two weekends.
Wassail Party
The weeks-long celebration begins Nov. 19 with the Wassail Party at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, 427 N. New St. Immediately following the City of Bethlehem’s tree lighting ceremony, 5-6 p.m. Nov. 19, follow the jingling bells rung by Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ Docents on Main up New Street to the Kemerer Museum and join in the wassailing merriment. Lend an ear to festive holiday tunes to get yourself in the holiday spirit. Light refreshments will be offered at this family-friendly event. For safety reasons, participants are asked to register ahead of time for this event.
Trees of Historic Bethlehem
At 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19, guests also will be able to witness the lighting of the Trees of Historic Bethlehem, a time-honored tradition featuring more than 26 trees on display across five historic sites. The dazzlingly decorated trees showcases ornaments carefully chosen by the Bethlehem Garden Club to embody this year’s chosen theme, “A Cinematic Christmas.” The exhibit runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, Nov. 19 through Jan. 9. Trees are located at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, Single Sisters House, Luckenbach Mill, and 1810 Goundie House. A multi-site pass can be purchased for $25, while a single site pass costs $12; $9 for children. Special combination offers and discounts are also can purchased at the HBMS online store.
Horse-drawn carriage rides
Also beginning the weekend of Nov. 19 will be several of tours of the Christmas City. Select tours allow for the purchase of a Sun Inn Combo pass, which lets the purchaser redeem a voucher for refreshments from the Sun Inn during their tour. Cozy, serene horse-drawn carriage rides, departing on Main Street in front of Central Moravian Church, take you through Bethlehem’s beautiful downtown. Carriage rides run every 20 minutes between 3 and 9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 19 through Dec. 1; Thursdays through Sundays, Dec. 2-19; and Dec. 22, 23 and 26-31. Each ride is $75 to reserve for your private group of up to 4 adults and 2 children on laps and can be reserved online.
Horse-drawn trolley rides
New for 2021, horse-drawn trolley rides have been added to the activity line-up. Running on Dec. 11, 18 and 19, visitors can journey through downtown Bethlehem and enjoy the lights, sights, and sounds of Church Street, Main Street, and Market Street on a cozy horse-drawn trolley. The rides are great for families and large groups. Trolleys will run between 5 and 9 p.m. on the half hour and leave from Payrow Plaza, 10 E. Church St. Tickets are $25 per person and can be reserved online.
Christmas City Stroll Walking Tour
Take a walk through historic Bethlehem with a certified guide in period dress on the Christmas City Stroll Walking Tour. Tours run at 1, 3 and 6 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 19 through Dec. 1; Thursdays through Sundays, Dec. 2-19; and Dec. 22, 23 and 26. Tours leave from the Historic Bethlehem Visitor Center, 505 Main St. The cost is $15 for adults, $6 for children and $10 for HBMS members. Special combination offers and discounts are available online.
Bethlehem by Night Motorcoach Tour
The Bethlehem by Night Motorcoach Tour explores the history and traditions of Bethlehem. Sit back and experience the Christmas City on a trip back in time with a certified costumed guide. Tours run at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 19-30; Thursdays through Sundays in December; and Dec. 20, 21, 22, 23, 26 and 31. Tours leave from the Historic Bethlehem Visitor Center, 505 Main St. Tickets, $15 for adults and $9 for children, can be reserved online.
Holiday Putz Trail
The Holiday Putz Trail returns to the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, Single Sisters’ House and Central Moravian Church. A putz is a traditional Moravian miniature replica depicting various settings of the Nativity story using ornate, hand-crafted figurines. A multi-site pass can be purchased for $25, while a single-site pass costs $12 for adults and $9 for children. Putz displays are included in your Trees of Historic Bethlehem pass. Special combination offers and discounts available online.
Live Advent Calendar
Visitors can gather outside the door of the 1810 Goundie House at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1-23 for the 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 hosted in partnership with the Downtown Bethlehem Association. The 1810 Goundie House is located at 501 Main St.
Christmas in the Quarter
Christmas in the Quarter, located at the Colonial Industrial Quarter, 459 Old York Road, promises to be buzzing with cheer 3-9 p.m. Dec. 11-12 and 18-19. Enjoy that classic Christmas feeling with lights lining the historic buildings and fun for the whole family. Activities include pop-up shopping, walking tours, a Christmas kids’ zone, a preview of Trees of Historic Bethlehem, a winter art exhibition from the Lehigh Art Alliance, Colonial blacksmith demonstrations and live music. Parking is available onsite and in the Spring Street lot. Special combination offers and discounts available online.
For tickets and more information, visit the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites website.
