Sample Cocktails at Bethlehem Christmas Open House

Get your Christmas shopping started while you sample holiday cocktails as the stores of the north and south side downtowns host the annual Christmas Open House on Saturday.

The downtowns on both sides of the Lehigh River will be decked out for the holiday season and many stores will kick off holiday specials and showcase holiday-themed gifts and dishes.

For $25, you can buy a passport to sample holiday cocktails—like a Rude Elf Hot Toddy, Jingle Juice or Spiced Egg Nog—at participating shops. The passport will come with a holiday tasting glass and a ticket to Christkindlmarkt.

The Cocktail Trail will be on from 1 to 5 p.m. You must be at least 21 years old to partake.

The Christmas open house is also the traditional start of the annual Doors and Windows of Bethlehem competition.

This competitive storefront decoration extravaganza takes place each year, and is an opportunity for local businesses to show off their own interpretation of a holiday theme. This year’s theme is “Light Up Bethlehem.” 

Downtown visitors are encouraged to take a self-guided tour of Bethlehem’s two shopping districts to visit all the holiday doors and windows vote for their favorite display. Visitors can pick up their map and ballot at several different downtown businesses.

On Saturday, north side downtown visitors will see ballerinas from the Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley in the windows of participating businesses.

A completed ballot will enter visitors into a contest for a chance to win a $1,000 downtown Bethlehem shopping spree. Completed ballots should be returned to the Visitor Center or the Apollo Grill, in order to be eligible to win.