Christkindlmarkt

Christkindlmarkt is running through Sunday, Dec. 17. Admission tickets and schedule for the 31st year of Christkindlmarkt are on up now on the Christmascity.org website.

“The city of Bethlehem comes to life during this festive holiday season. Families from across the region, and beyond, come to the Christmas City to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season,” said Kassie Hilgert, President and CEO of ArtsQuest.

Christkindlmarkt offers a unique holiday shopping experience with over a dozen crafters, artisans and retailers - such as crowd favorite, Käthe Wohlfahrt, who offers handmade ornaments, nutcrackers and collectibles straight from Germany.

In addition to holiday shopping, Christkindlmarkt offers hands-on holiday-themed craft making, fun for the entire family; warm strudel, piping hot poutine, potato pancakes and more. You can even meet St. Nicholas, arriving all the way from the North Pole.

Single-day Christkindlmarkt tickets are available at www.christmascity.org/christkindlmarkt. For children 5 and under admission is free.

Christkindlmarkt will open Friday through Sunday this week and then expand to Thursdays through Sundays (Nov. 30-Dec. 17). Hours of operation are Thursdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The expanded Ice Rink at SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital is set to open on Tuesday, Nov. 21 and is open until Jan. 15.

Crayola Creativity Tent

During Christkindlmarkt, you can visit the Crayola Creativity Tent to take a break from shopping and make a festive craft. Stop by any time throughout Christkindlmarkt to work on a coloring page or self-directed project.

On Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Banana Factory teaching artists will be on-site to guide you through a project.

ArtSmart Exhibition

The ArtSmart Fall 2023 Exhibition takes place as part of December First Friday on Dec. 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Studio 102 at the Banana Factory. Come and support the students of Bethlehem Area School District.

ArtSmart is an art enrichment program that consists of interactive after-school or summer courses, taught by professional Teaching Artists. Classes run for eight weeks. Students work in a variety of mediums including drawing, dance and movement, fiber arts, mixed media, painting, assemblage and printmaking, fashion design and digital illustration.

Winter classes

ArtsQuest is getting crafty this holiday season with a variety of fun-filled activities and classes for the entire community to enjoy at the Banana Factory.

“The holidays are a great time for the entire family to come together and get creative. ArtsQuest offers a unique line-up of programs, classes, and events that are holiday-themed and invite people to create original artwork, support local artists by shopping for handmade items, and give the gift of a holiday art camp or class. Meaningful experiences and handcrafted items make amazing gifts!” Lisa Harms, Senior Director of Visual Arts and Education at ArtsQuest.

• Sunday: Family Workshop: Ceramic Holiday Ornaments (Ages 13+) with Gabrielle Gentile, 11 a.m.

• Nov. 26: Family Workshop: Holiday Cookie Trays with Gabriella Gentile, 11 a.m.

• Dec. 4: Repurposed Cookie Cutter Ornaments with Nicole Ensmenger, 6 p.m.

• Dec. 5: Needle Felting: Santa with Katrina Heebner, 6:30 p.m.

• Dec. 9: Snowflake Ornament Workshop with Allison Mackenzie, 11 a.m.

• Dec. 10: Star and Tree Ornament Workshop with Allison Mackenzie, 1 p.m.

• Dec. 12: Beautifully Botanical Workshop: Pressed Flower Trinket Dish (Winter Theme) with Kristen Bashford, 6:30 p.m.

• Dec. 13: Ceramic Cookie Jar with Gabrielle Gentile, 6 p.m.

• Dec. 15: Date Night Experience: Wheelthrowing with Gabriella Gentile, 6:30 p.m.

• Dec. 15: Date Night Workshop: Pressed Flower Trinket Dish (Winter Theme) with Kristen Bashford, 6:30 p.m.

Holiday Pop-Up Market

This free 2nd Sunday Holiday Pop-Up Market on Dec. 10 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Banana Factory features Banana Factory students, Teaching Artists and Resident Artists who will be selling their artwork and crafts. In addition, visitors are invited to bring their lightly used but unwanted art supplies or small artworks for a free art swap. Any remaining items at the end of the day will be offered for free in the Banana Factory lobby.

Holiday Camp

Holiday Camp happens from Dec. 26 through the 29 at the Banana Factory from 9 a.m. to noon.

This camp offers young artists (ages 4-9) the opportunity to stay creative throughout their holiday break. Each morning at camp, children will attend two workshops with Banana Factory professional teaching artists. In between the two workshops, there will be a 30-minute break. You can sign up for one day or all four.

In addition to holiday camps, there are crafting socials and family workshops. The socials and workshops bring young artists and their families together. These workshops happen every afternoon Dec. 26 through the 29 and there is a new project every day.

For more Banana Factory classes and workshops, you can visit BananaFactory.org.