Christmas City USA Shines Brighter Than Ever

Many towns across the country come alive during the holiday season, and none more than the officially named “Christmas City USA “, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Christmas spirit explodes here every year, and there are some upgrades and changes that have occurred here since last year.

The Sayre Mansion

- The Sayre Mansion. Built in 1858 and the former home of one of Bethlehem’s prominent citizen’s Robert Sayre, the mansion was meticulously restored over the past 20 years. The mansion sits on 2 acres, and its location right near the Hill–to–Hill Bridge makes it the perfect spot to view Bethlehem’s famous Christmas scenery. There are 23 rooms at the mansion, each offering a blend of historic charm, thoughtfully decorated with a collection of antique furniture, including elegant armoires, classic wooden desks, and ornate hand–carved headboards. The Conservatory is simply splendid. This unique rooftop refuge offers a 180–degree view of Bethlehem and spans the full depth of the mansion.

Christkindlmarkt and Holiday Upgrades

- Christkindlmarkt. One of the largest and most attended Christmas markets in the United States, Christkindlmarkt is a German–inspired holiday market. It features hundreds of artisan vendors, festive treats and activities, an array of Christmas ornaments, pendants, earrings, and other jewelry, pottery, gloves, hats, purses, and countless other handcrafted items. There has been quite a bit of change to Christkindlmarkt:

  • Replacing the ice skating rink with the new Winter Wonderland expansion, a large addition to the holiday marketplace that is now an immersive holiday village, and features Bavarian–inspired décor, holiday photo opportunities, a family craft area, expanded glassblowing demonstrations, and so on. (With over 134,000 visitors last year, the expansion was needed to reduce congestion and enhance the experience).
  • A new, permanent stage that will host over 75 live holiday performances, plus a large hospitality tent with heated seating and dining spaces and private rental spaces for parties and corporate events.
  • St. Nich’s new home – a Bavarian–themed space with enhanced seating and photo ops.
  • Outdoor Igloo Rentals, Private, heated igloos available to rent, including food and beverage options.

A Living Holiday Postcard

While some changes have been made, the town is still the not–so–hidden gem that transforms every December into a living holiday postcard. Lantern – lit cobblestone streets, centuries–old buildings adorned with millions of twinkling lights, a horse-drawn carriage through the main street, carolers in the streets, the massive 90–foot tall Star of Bethlehem atop the South Mountain every year since 1937…

And the annual Live Advent Calendar tradition. In collaboration with Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites and the Touchstone Theatre, every day at 5:30 pm from December 1st through December 23rd, visitors gather at the historic Sun Inn courtyard. At the time of the daily presentation, a selected visitor is asked to knock on the door. When the door is opened, a special guest from a local business or organization appears and distributes treats to the crowd. The Historic Downtown Bethlehem Association Advent Calendar is life–sized, with a special person to hand out the treats, and each day a different local business provides special entertainment.

There is no better place in the country to celebrate the Christmas season than in Bethlehem.

Moving to Bethlehem for the Holidays and Beyond? We’re Here to Help

If you’ve fallen in love with “Christmas City USA” and are thinking about making Bethlehem your new home, we at O’Brien’s Moving & Storage are here to make your move smooth and stress–free. We’ve been proudly serving Bethlehem and the entire Lehigh Valley for decades, and we know how special this city is—especially during the holiday season.

  • Local and long–distance residential moves
  • Interstate and cross–country relocation services
  • Packing and unpacking options to fit your needs
  • Secure short– and long–term storage solutions
  • Senior moving services are handled with care and respect

Whether you’re moving into a historic home near downtown, a cozy rowhome lit up for the holidays, or a quiet neighborhood with a view of the Star of Bethlehem, we’ll handle the details so you can focus on enjoying the magic of the season—and your new home in Bethlehem.