Christkindlmarkt Ushers in Holiday Season: Your Weekend

More than 125 artisans and vendors will be on hand as the tents at Christkindlmarkt open for the first time this season Thursday and through the weekend.

Recognized as one of the top holiday markets in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine, Christkindlmarkt features aisles of handmade works by the nation’s finest artisans; traditional and contemporary holiday music; and a variety of food from vendors offering bratwursts, strudel, German roasted almonds, barbeque and more.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem hours are Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Advance tickets for Christkindlmarkt are $8 for ages 13 and older, $4 for ages 6-12, and admission is free for ages 5 and under. ArtsQuest members are also admitted free.

Here's what else is going on in Bethlehem this weekend:

• The District 11, AAA football champion Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks move into the state playoffs Friday night in a matchup with undefeated District 2 champion Berwick at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

• Alexander Shlemenko battles Doug Marshall for the Bellator Mixed Marshal Arts middleweight title at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center on Friday night. That will be the featured contest in a 12-fight MMA card that gets under way at 7 p.m. Tickets are from $35 to $125.

• GRAMMY-nominated jazz vocalist and Allentown native Denise Donatelli performs two on-stage cabaret shows at the Zoellner Arts Center Friday at 7 and 9 p.m. Dinner and a show has been sold out, but you can still come and listen for $22.

• Local blues harp master James Supra brings his band to Godfrey Daniels at 8 p.m. Friday. James has been the winner of the Lehigh Valley Music Award for best harmonica player for more than a decade running. The list of players he has performed with includes some of the most revered names in music including BB King Ronnie Baker Brooks, Catfish Hodge and Debbie Davies. Admission is $16.50.

• The Fox Nature Center in the old Illick’s Mill, 100 Illick’s Mill Road, hosts a holiday market fundraiser on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. Great prices on hundreds of holiday items. Raise funds for the nature center by buying exquisite ornaments, plus collectibles, gifts, craft materials, lights, home decorations, gift bags, serving plates, and much more. Items left over from the Saturday sale will be sold at half-price on Sunday when the center opens at noon.

• The Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, 427 N. New St., Bethlehem hosts the “Dolly and Me,” program for children who are from Pre-K to first grade, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. They will get a chance to make pilgrim's hats, one for themselves and one for their favorite stuffed animal, GI Joe, Transformer or doll. Afterwards, they may explore the special exhibition, All About Hats, designed exclusively for Dolly and Me participants. Admission to the Dolly and Me program is free with Historic Bethlehem's Pass Into History admission ticket (Adults $12, Children 6-13 $6, under 6 Free).

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

• Celebrate the one-year anniversary of Menchie’s in the Taylor Court shopping mall with a free frozen yogurt from 3 to 5 p.m. in the store at 3014 Linden St. There will also be free face painting for the kids.

• Singer-songwriter Heather Maloney and eclectic folk-rock band Session Americana perform at Godfrey Daniels at 8 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $17.50.

• Alternative rock/pop band Weezer—known for hits like “Buddy Holly,” “Undone—The Sweater Song,” and “Say It Ain’t So,” comes to the Sands Bethlehem Event Center at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. General admission tickets are $55.

• Local guitar legend Craig Thatcher brings Nyke Van Wyk and the rest of his band to Godfrey Daniels at 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $18.50 if you pay in advance, $21.50 at the door.