ADVENT 2026 · BETHLEHEM · PENNSYLVANIA
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Christmas markets 2026: dates, places and opening times
Bethlehem has two Christmas markets with different calendars. Christkindlmarkt at SteelStacks opens on 13 November in six blocks, and Christmas City Village in the Sun Inn Courtyard opens Friday to Sunday from 20 November. Both close for the season on 20 December 2026.
When are the Christmas markets in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 2026?
Christkindlmarkt on PNC Plaza at SteelStacks opens on 13 to 15, 20 to 22 and 27 to 29 November, and on 3 to 6, 10 to 13 and 17 to 20 December 2026. It opens 10 am to 6 pm on Thursdays and Sundays and 10 am to 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays; Thursdays apply only in December. Christmas City Village in the Sun Inn Courtyard opens Friday to Sunday from 20 November to 20 December, 11 am to 7 pm, with free admission. Both markets end on 20 December.
- Christkindlmarkt
- 13 Nov – 20 Dec, six blocks
- Christmas City Village
- 20 Nov – 20 Dec, Fri–Sun
- Admission
- Village free; market from US$14
- Free window
- Open Fridays, 5–8 pm
Where are the Christmas markets in Bethlehem, PA?
The two markets sit on different sides of town and follow separate rules. Treat the move between them as a short journey of its own.
Christkindlmarkt at SteelStacks
The ArtsQuest market takes place on PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, visitor address 645 East First Street. Gift and craft stalls stand against the backdrop of the former steelworks. There are ticketed day visits, a free Friday evening window, igloo reservations and a separately booked glassmaking activity at the GlasHaus in Winter Wonderland.
Christmas City Village
Wooden stalls fill the Sun Inn Courtyard in the historic district, close to Main Street. Admission is free. The same courtyard hosts the Live Advent Calendar at 5:30 pm from 1 to 23 December, so a December afternoon at the Village can end with that short daily event.
Pop-Up Artist Markets
ArtsQuest announces two additional artist markets. One is at the Creative Factory, 25 West Third Street, on 5 and 6 December from 10 am to 4 pm. The other is in Winter Wonderland on 20 December from 10 am to 6 pm and, according to the organiser, is included with Christkindlmarkt admission. Confirm the Creative Factory event before you go.
What are the opening hours of the Bethlehem Christmas markets?
Opening hours change with the day of the week, and the two markets do not open and close at the same time.
Christkindlmarkt, 10 am to 6 pm
On Thursdays and Sundays the market closes at 6 pm. Thursday opening applies only to the three December blocks: 3, 10 and 17 December. In November the blocks run Friday to Sunday, so there is no Thursday market then. Plan a Sunday visit with the earlier closing time in mind.
Christkindlmarkt, 10 am to 8 pm
Fridays and Saturdays have the longest hours. On open Fridays (13, 20 and 27 November, 4, 11 and 18 December) entry is free from 5 to 8 pm, which gives you three market hours without a day ticket. Saturdays suit a longer day that starts at the industrial museum.
Christmas City Village, 11 am to 7 pm
The courtyard market opens Friday to Sunday only, from 20 November to 20 December. There is no regular Thursday opening. The Village opens an hour later than Christkindlmarkt and closes at 7 pm, which leaves time after the 5:30 pm Advent Calendar on December weekends.
How much does the Bethlehem Christmas market cost in 2026?
Christmas City Village is free to enter. Christkindlmarkt charges admission outside the free Friday window.
US$14 or US$16.50
ArtsQuest lists US$14 including fees on Thursdays and Fridays, and US$16.50 including fees and the city amusement tax on Saturdays and Sundays. Children aged five and under enter free. For two paying adults that is US$28 or US$33. Tickets follow a no-refund, no-exchange policy, so choose your date first.
Free entry from 5 to 8 pm
On every open Friday you can enter Christkindlmarkt without a ticket from 5 pm. Food, drinks, purchases and extras are still paid for. It suits a first look or a focused gift hunt, though three hours is shorter than a daytime visit.
Igloo reservation
An igloo reservation lasts two hours and holds up to six people, but includes only two market admissions; the description also mentions hot chocolate. Other guests need their own tickets. Work out the total for your actual group before you book.
Bethlehem Christmas season 2026 at a glance
Key dates from the organisers' published calendars for both markets and the main December traditions.
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13 Nov
Christkindlmarkt opens
First block from 13 to 15 November at SteelStacks, with a free Friday evening on opening day.
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20 Nov
Christmas City Village opens
The Sun Inn Courtyard market starts its Friday-to-Sunday season. Both markets now share weekends.
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27 Nov
Christmas Putz begins
The narrated Nativity at Central Moravian Church, 40 West Church Street, opens for the season.
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1 Dec
Live Advent Calendar starts
Daily at 5:30 pm in the Sun Inn Courtyard until 23 December, free, around 10 to 15 minutes.
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3 Dec
First Thursday opening
Christkindlmarkt adds Thursdays in its December blocks: 3, 10 and 17 December.
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5–6 Dec
Pop-Up Artist Market
At the Creative Factory, 25 West Third Street, 10 am to 4 pm. Confirm the event before travelling.
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20 Dec
Final market day
Last day for both markets, with a Pop-Up Artist Market in Winter Wonderland from 10 am to 6 pm.
Before you choose your date
All dates and routes in one PDF
The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania guide sets both market calendars side by side and adds the museums, traditions and transport around them. Six routes show how to turn a date into a workable day.
- 50 pages, instant PDF download
- Both 2026 market calendars, prices and payment rules
- Six routes, from a free Friday evening to a two-day weekend
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bethlehem Christmas market open every day?
No. Christkindlmarkt opens in six blocks: Friday to Sunday in November and Thursday to Sunday in December. Christmas City Village opens Friday to Sunday only, from 20 November to 20 December. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays neither market is open, although the Live Advent Calendar runs daily in December.
When does Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem end in 2026?
The final published market day is Sunday 20 December 2026, for both Christkindlmarkt and Christmas City Village. That day Christkindlmarkt opens from 10 am to 6 pm, and a Pop-Up Artist Market in Winter Wonderland runs from 10 am to 6 pm, included with market admission according to ArtsQuest.
Can I visit both Bethlehem Christmas markets on the same day?
Yes, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 20 November and 20 December. Allow for the different hours: the Village opens 11 am to 7 pm, while Christkindlmarkt closes at 6 pm on Sundays and 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Plan the transfer by LANTA bus or car as its own part of the day.
Is Christmas City Village free?
Yes. According to the current city events calendar, Christmas City Village in the Sun Inn Courtyard is free to enter. Vendors set their own payment and purchase conditions, so ask before buying. The Live Advent Calendar in the same courtyard is also free.
Where is Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, PA?
On PNC Plaza at SteelStacks on the South Side, with the visitor address 645 East First Street. Free public parking is listed next to the grounds on a first-come basis, and pickup and drop-off is on First Street in front of the Willkommen Haus.
More for your Advent trip
Research status 29 October 2026; Tabiara is an independent guide, not an official publication, so check the organiser and venue sources before you travel.