Oct. 21, 2025
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Bethlehem City Council will discuss permits for festivals and set the Christmas City’s annual tree-lighting date at a meeting tonight.
The meeting may not be festive — they rarely are — but it will be about festivals.
This year’s tree lighting will be Nov. 28 at Payrow Plaza, the open space on Church Street between City Hall and the Bethlehem Area Public Library.
Council will also review a permit request for ChristKindlmarket. This year’s holiday event will be bigger and take place over an extra weekend, with Friday evening admission free, according to ArtsQuest, which operates the festival.
“Following years of record-breaking attendance, this beloved holiday tradition will grow in both footprint and offerings, beginning this season with the return of a sixth weekend and Free Friday evening admittance,” according to the ArtsQuest website.
Here are the dates:
- FREE Friday admission from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Thursdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday, November 14 – Sunday, Nov 16
- Friday, November 21 – Sunday, November 23
- Friday, November 28 – Sunday, November 30
- Thursday, December 4 – Sunday, December 7
- Thursday, December 11 – Sunday, December 14
- Thursday, December 18 – Sunday, December 21
Council will also see the dates for the Christmas City Village, the kiosks on Main Street. That Village could use a kick in the pants. Vendors are often not open, and some of the offerings are generic, not really connected with the season or the setting.
Just my humble opinion, as usual. Based on my visits downtown last year, the crowds weren’t there even when weather was good.
Bethlehem City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 in Town Hall, the building off Church Street between City Hall and the library.
Here is a link to the agenda, which is subject to change. The meeting will also be shown on the Internet.
Council will also meet as a “Committee of the Whole,” meaning all seven, at 6 p.m. to review the city’s capital plan.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 