Bethlehem Christmas Market

The Bethlehem Christmas market, the Christkindlmarkt at SteelStacks, runs for six weekends from 13 November to 20 December 2026, Friday to Sunday in November and Thursday to Sunday in December, at the foot of the former Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces in Pennsylvania. In 2025, close to 170 vendors welcomed 145,552 visitors. Admission costs $14 to $16.50, and the town, nicknamed “Christmas City USA”, lies 95 km from Philadelphia and 138 km from New York.

Bethlehem Christkindlmarkt 2026: dates and opening hours

The market opens at weekends only, Friday to Sunday in November and Thursday to Sunday in December, over six weekends: 13 to 15 November, 20 to 22 November, 27 to 29 November, 3 to 6 December, 10 to 13 December and 17 to 20 December 2026. On Thursday and Sunday the tents are open from 10am to 6pm, on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 8pm.

Tickets: admission price and free Friday evenings

Admission is ticketed. A ticket costs $14 on Thursday and Friday and $16.50 on Saturday and Sunday, fees included. Children aged 5 and under get in free, as do ArtsQuest members at Silver level and above, while Bronze members pay $13 and $15.50. On Friday from 5pm to 8pm, ArtsQuest waives admission, with no fees at all.

SteelStacks: a market under tents at the foot of the blast furnaces

The Christkindlmarkt fills the PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 645 East First Street, the arts campus run by ArtsQuest on the former Bethlehem Steel site, whose blast furnaces tower over the tents. Free parking is available next door.

The German-inspired market held its 33rd edition in 2025, with close to 170 vendors, artisans and makers from 14 states and Scotland. That year it drew 145,552 visitors, a record. A “Winter Wonderland” area was added in 2025, private igloos can be booked, and a combined ticket includes the lights at Jefferson Park.

Getting to Bethlehem from Philadelphia or New York

Bethlehem is a 1 hr 24 min drive from Philadelphia City Hall (95 km) and 1 hr 51 min from Bryant Park in New York (138 km). From Europe, flights to Philadelphia or New York are worth comparing between airlines.

The continent’s other markets are gathered on our page of Christmas markets in North America. Two big cities pair well with Bethlehem on the same trip.

• The Philadelphia Christmas market, Christmas Village at LOVE Park, is the closest.
• The New York Christmas market at Bryant Park opens as early as late October.