ArtsQuest lists free public parking immediately next to the Christkindlmarkt grounds at SteelStacks, on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited accessible parking is available, and pickup and drop-off is on First Street in front of the Willkommen Haus. Several municipal garages nearby charge their own rates. The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania guide covers parking for both markets.
Free parking next to Christkindlmarkt
The free public parking beside the grounds is the obvious first choice for the South Side. Follow signs and staff directions to an available space. Because it is first come, first served, a space is not guaranteed, particularly on busy days.
Market address: PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 645 East First Street.
Drop-off and pickup: First Street, in front of the Willkommen Haus.
Accessible parking: limited spaces are described. Wheelchairs can also be borrowed at the Willkommen Haus, subject to availability, with ID left as a deposit.
Free parking does not mean free entry. Outside the free Friday window from 5 to 8 pm, market admission is charged separately, and paying for a garage does not include a ticket either.
Municipal garages with their own rates
ArtsQuest also lists three municipal garages:
Polk Street Garage: 418 PA-412.
Riverport Garage: 13 West Second Street.
South New Street Garage: 324 South New Street.
These charge their own rates, and the free event parking does not apply to them. Check the current price and conditions at the garage you choose. If you arrive later in the day, a garage can be the more predictable option.
Parking for the historic district
The free parking at SteelStacks is for the South Side, not for the historic district. If your day is mainly about Christmas City Village, Main Street, the museums or the Advent Calendar, choose a starting point that suits that side instead. Check the price and conditions on site, as the guide does not list a specific free option there.
A day at both markets by car
On a Friday, Saturday or Sunday between 20 November and 20 December, both markets are open. You have two sensible options:
Move the car: drive from the South Side to the historic district, paying for parking there.
Combine with the bus: leave the car in one place and use LANTA's Blue or Green EBS route for part of the journey. A single fare is US$2, a day pass US$4.
Compare the whole arrangement, including the eventual return to your vehicle. A car parked on the South Side means a journey back there after the Advent Calendar at 5:30 pm in the Sun Inn Courtyard.
Finding your car again
After a long evening, a precise route back is more useful than remembering that the car is somewhere near the market. Before you walk off:
Photograph the entrance and the parking level.
Save the address of the car park separately from the market address.
Note the closing time of your market: 6 pm on Thursdays and Sundays, 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays at Christkindlmarkt.
Frequently asked questions
Is parking free at Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem?
ArtsQuest lists free public parking next to the grounds, first come, first served. Municipal garages charge separately.
Is there accessible parking?
Limited accessible parking is described, plus a drop-off point on First Street in front of the Willkommen Haus.
Research status: 29 October 2026. Dates, times and prices are planning information and can change, so check the official organiser and venue sources before you travel.
