Business & Tech

Bethlehem Live Advent Calendar Opens Tonight

Live Advent Calendar in Historic Downtown Bethlehem enters its seventh season at the Goundie House. Lehigh University to be season's first presenters.

 

A one-of-a-kind holiday tradition begins its seventh season in Historic Downtown Bethlehem this evening as the “Live Advent Calendar” will open at the 1810 Goundie House at 505 Main St. at 5:30 p.m.

The merchants of the Downtown Bethlehem Association in conjunction with Historic Bethlehem Partnership will provide a special treat to the visitors every day. It is the only Live Advent Calendar in the United States.

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Crowds of up to 300 gather for the 10-minute program. The program will run through December 24.

The presentation scenario will take place as follows:

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  • Visitors gather outside the door of the Goundie House
  • At the time of the presentation, a selected visitor will be asked to walk up to the door and open it
  • When the door is opened, a special guest from a local business or organization will appear and distribute treats among the crowd

The idea of the Live Advent Calendar is from the tradition of Advent Calendars or Christmas Countdown Calendars for children and families. With a traditional calendar, there is a set number of “doors” to open each day as Christmas draws near. Traditional calendars provide a treat or verbiage each day. 

The Historic DBA Advent Calendar will be life-sized with a special person to hand out the treat at 5:30 pm sharp daily. Each day will be different and very special surprises will happen throughout the time counting down to Christmas Day.

The traditional colonial design of the décor on the door to the Goundie House is due to the creative talent and generosity of Mary Cabbott Butler of Ostara at 521 Main Street.

Charlene Donchez Mowers, Historic Bethlehem’s executive director, is allowing the DBA to use the door to Bethlehem’s first brick house as the site of the Live Advent Calendar.

Lehigh University is the first treat presenter this evening as it was in 2011. Accompanying this story, a video of Lehigh’s 2011 Live Advent Calendar presentation starring Dolce, the women’s a cappella chorus.


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