I live here, so I'm biased, but this corner of Pennsylvania is one of the best places I know to spend a holiday weekend. You can browse a German-style Christmas market, walk a Moravian town lit by candles in the windows, and end the night at a village glowing with a million lights, all without spending more than an hour in the car.
Here's how I'd spend it.
Bethlehem: the Christmas City
Bethlehem has gone by "Christmas City" for decades, and it earns the name. The historic district along Main Street is lined with 18th-century Moravian stone buildings, and in December you'll see single white candles glowing in windows all over town.
The big draw is Christkindlmarkt at SteelStacks, set right beside the old Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces. Think artisan vendors, German food, warm drinks and live music. It isn't open every day, so plan around the dates:
Fridays to Sundays: November 13th to 15th, November 20th to 22nd, and November 27th to 29th
Thursdays to Sundays: December 3rd to 6th, December 10th to 13th, and December 17th to 20th
Check tickets and hours on the ArtsQuest website before you go. Weekend evenings are the busiest, so if you can swing a Thursday or Friday afternoon in December, do it.
Where to stay: Hotel Bethlehem sits right on Main Street, so you can park once and walk everywhere, including down to the market.
Peddler's Village and New Hope
About 45 minutes south, Peddler's Village in Lahaska turns on its holiday lights at the Grand Illumination Celebration on Friday, November 20th. The lights switch on at 6:15pm, and the village recommends arriving by 5:30pm since parking fills up. If crowds aren't your thing, come any evening afterward. The lights stay up through the season, and the shops run extended holiday hours.
The Holly Jolly Weekend is Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th, with parades and extra activities if you have kids along.
From there, New Hope is a ten-minute drive. Walk the main street, cross the bridge on foot to Lambertville, New Jersey, and find somewhere cozy along the river for dinner.
Where to stay: The Golden Plough Inn is right in Peddler's Village, so you can see the lights after dinner without moving the car.
Doylestown
If you have a third day, Doylestown is worth it. The Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle, both built by Henry Mercer out of poured concrete, are unlike anything else around here, and the Michener Art Museum is a short walk from the shops and restaurants downtown.
A simple plan
Friday: Drive to Bethlehem, check in, and spend the evening at Christkindlmarkt.
Saturday: Walk the historic district in the morning, then head to Peddler's Village for the afternoon and stay for the lights.
Sunday: Brunch in New Hope, walk across the bridge to Lambertville, and head home.
If you'd like help putting together a weekend like this, for yourself or as a gift, I'm happy to plan it.
