By Elizabeth Maker
The 42nd annual Bethlehem Christmas Town Festival is set for Dec. 1 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Dec. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting with a tree lighting on the village green. The 85-foot-tall Norway Spruce is the biggest around, even taller than the one at Rockefeller Center. Other attractions include carols, bell choirs, hayrides, Santa’s workshop, crafts by local artisans, food from area nonprofits, a scavenger hunt, and a 5k “Santa Made Me Do It” road race for all ages.
Another favorite in Bethlehem is the crèche at the Abbey of Regina Laudis. Heralded as “the Rembrandt of Creches” by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 18th century Neapolitan nativity scene draws thousands of visitors from around the world.
Many who make the pilgrimage to Bethlehem engage in two other traditions: buying the town’s annual pewter Christmas ornament made by local artist Matt Gonzalez—sold at the festival and at area stores; and stopping at the local post office to mail holiday cards, to get a “Bethlehem” postmark and the Christmas Town cachet stamped on their envelopes. “We handle hundreds of thousands of pieces of mail around December,” says retired postal clerk Vera Rosa. “These days with everything being electronic, this kind of tradition is amazing. Everyone who comes in is so incredibly cheery. It’s absolutely contagious.”
