As the weather chills, thoughts of celebrations and family enter our thoughts. Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites has the perfect holiday activities for visitors and the community who wish to experience the charm and fun Christmas City has to offer.

HBMS is excited to launch its holiday season, with three guided historic tours: the Christmas City stroll tour (began Nov. 15), Bethlehem by night motor coach tour (begins Nov. 29) and spirits of Christmas pub walking tour (begins Nov. 30). Holiday offerings will be available through Jan. 5, 2025. Visitors to Christmas City will discover holiday traditions, including the trees of historic Bethlehem exhibition and the 32 annual holiday dinner and art auction.

The dinner and auction gets the Lehigh Valley holiday scene started Dec. 7 at ArtsQuest, featuring dining, cocktails and auctions, including original art, live music and much more. Featured artist Sandra Corpora’s “Winter’s Glow” painting will be the auction’s centerpiece.

The annual trees of historic Bethlehem exhibition will be displayed at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, Moravian Museum of Bethlehem and the Single Sisters’ House through Jan. 5, 2025. With more than 20 trees decorated by Bethlehem Garden Club, this year’s trees of historic Bethlehem lets you experience cities from across the country without boarding a plane. While viewing the trees, complete a scavenger hunt for ornaments that highlight World Heritage Sites and National Historic Landmarks throughout the United States.

Full museum tours will be offered on the hour at both museums and run approximately 40 minutes. Trees of historic Bethlehem tours will run for approximately 20 minutes, beginning at the half-hour mark, with the last tour 5:30 p.m.

HBMS offers a Christmas City combo ticket special, which allows entry into the trees of historic Bethlehem exhibition across three sites and one entry to Christkindlmarkt at SteelStacks, which runs through Dec. 22. The event occurs Fridays to Sundays during the first two weekends of its run, and starting Dec. 5 is open Thursdays, too. Christkindlmarkt’s hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The Christmas City combo is available for purchase until Dec. 22.

The Christmas City stroll tour is designed especially for the Christmas season. The tour focuses on cherished traditions: a candle in every window, beeswax candles, the renowned star of Bethlehem and Moravian star, the community putz and more set among Bethlehem’s exquisite Victorian and colonial architecture. It also features two National Historic Landmarks, which are also part of the Moravian Church Settlements-Bethlehem World Heritage Site: the 1741 Gemeinhaus and 1762 Waterworks. The tour is running until Jan. 5, 2025.

The Bethlehem by night motor coach tour explores the history and traditions of the city with tour guides in colonial period attire. Get a glimpse back in time and experience the Christmas City like never before. Don’t miss out on visiting the famous star atop South Mountain and the historic highlights of North and South Bethlehem. The tour runs through Dec. 31.

The spirits of Christmas pub walking tour is an adults-only experience that runs through Dec. 29. This holiday pub tour invites guests on a journey through the historic gems of Bethlehem, diving into the origins and meanings of the Moravian traditions, adding depth to the holiday experience. One complimentary tasting is included at the start of the tour at the 1810 Goundie House. Attendees have the option of purchasing additional drinks at the other tour stops. Participants must be at least 21 years old and show valid ID.