What's Happening in Bethlehem This Week: November 16-22, 2026

The week of Monday, November 16 through Sunday, November 22, 2026 is when Bethlehem's holiday season fully takes hold. Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem runs its third weekend at SteelStacks, Christmas City Village opens Friday on Main and Broad Streets, Lehigh and Lafayette meet in the 162nd playing of The Rivalry at Fisher Stadium, Wynonna Judd and Mark Normand headline Wind Creek, and Freedom and Liberty chase district football titles. This roundup covers Hanover Township (where 3650 Stephen Crane Ln sits), the City of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, the Bethlehem Area School District, well-reviewed places to eat, Wind Creek Bethlehem, and Lehigh and Moravian universities. Everything below was checked against official and current sources this week.

Around Bethlehem: Hanover Township, the City, and Bethlehem Township

In Hanover Township, Northampton County, where 3650 Stephen Crane Ln sits, no Board of Supervisors meeting falls in this window; the board held its November session Tuesday, November 10 at the Municipal Office, 3630 Jacksonville Road, and agendas post ahead of each meeting at hanovertwp-nc.org. With the leaves nearly down, the township's curbside leaf collection continues through late November or the first week of December, weather permitting; leaves must be loose or in brown paper yard-waste bags, and the trash hauler does not collect them. The township's special-events page at hanovertwp-nc.org/special-events is the place to check Community Center programming for the holiday weeks ahead.

In the City of Bethlehem, the holiday season officially expands this weekend. Christmas City Village, the free outdoor holiday shopping village, opens Friday, November 20 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Main and Broad Streets and runs Fridays through Sundays through December 20. The Silver & Gold Holiday Cocktail Trails return Saturday, November 21 from noon to 5:00 PM across Main and Broad Streets, and Christmas carriage rides run from Church and Main Streets through January 3. The Trees of Historic Bethlehem exhibition opened Friday, November 13, with more than 20 decorated trees spread across three historic sites. The Bethlehem Farmers Market at Farrington Square closed its 2026 season Thursday, November 12, so there is no market session this week.

At SteelStacks, Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem holds its third weekend Friday through Sunday, November 20-22 at the ArtsQuest Center, 101 Founders Way, with hours 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Friday and Saturday and 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday. The 34th annual market brings artisan vendors, food, live music, and St. Nicholas visits; see artsquest.org/christkindlmarkt for the full schedule.

Bethlehem Township holds its Board of Commissioners regular meeting Monday, November 16 at 7:00 PM in the Municipal Building, 3535 Orth Street, livestreamed per the township's practice. The township's November newsletter notes that a meeting originally set for Wednesday, November 25 has been rescheduled to Wednesday, November 18 at 3535 Orth Street; confirm the agenda on the township calendar at bethlehemtownship.org. Leaf collection continues through mid-December, weather permitting.

Bethlehem Area School District, Freedom, and Liberty

The Bethlehem Area School District runs a full five-day school week in this window ahead of the Thanksgiving break, which closes schools Wednesday, November 25 through Monday, November 30 per the published 2026-2027 calendar.

On the football field, the PIAA District 11 Class 6A bracket reaches its final round this week for the Lehigh Valley qualifiers, including Freedom and Liberty if they advanced from the semifinals. The district final is expected midweek, with the PIAA state first round falling Friday and Saturday, November 20-21. Pairings depend on results, so confirm opponents, times, and venues on the day-by-day varsity athletics calendar at basdschools.org. Winter sports are in full swing across the district, with basketball, wrestling, swimming, and indoor track schedules posted on the same calendar.

Theater fans: the Freedom High School Theatre Company's production of "Mamma Mia" is slated for November, with exact dates announced through the company's ticketing page; watch the company's page on the district site for the announcement.

Good Places to Eat in Bethlehem

Fresh picks for the Christmas City Village opening and the Lehigh-Lafayette weekend, all real, verifiable places and a short drive from Hanover Farms:

• Machs Gute Pub and Grille at 713 Linden Street is a neighborhood pub with a 4.4-star average across about 78 reviews.
• The People's Kitchen at 639 Linden Street is a casual South Side cafe with a 4.6-star average across more than 230 reviews.
• Tre Scalini Ristorante at 221 East Broad Street serves Italian fare with a 4.4-star average across about 107 reviews.
• Edge Restaurant at 74 West Broad Street is downtown's contemporary American dining room, with a 4.2-star average across more than 260 reviews.
• Apollo Grill at 85 West Broad Street is a long-running downtown favorite with a 4.6-star average across more than 1,000 reviews, a fitting choice for a Christkindlmarkt evening.

Call ahead on the village opening and game day; the downtown rooms fill fast.

Events at Wind Creek Bethlehem

Two shows anchor the week at the Wind Creek Event Center at 77 Wind Creek Boulevard. Wynonna Judd brings The Hard Truth Tour Thursday, November 19 at 8:00 PM, and comedian Mark Normand performs Saturday, November 21 at 8:00 PM. Tickets run through the venue's official channels at windcreekeventcenter.com.

Lehigh University and Moravian University

At Lehigh University, the Mountain Hawks play the 162nd meeting of The Rivalry Saturday, November 21 at 12:30 PM at Fisher Stadium in Easton, Lafayette's home venue, streamed on ESPN+, per Lafayette's official 2026 schedule. It is the most-played rivalry in college football, and Lehigh has won the past two meetings, including 42-32 in 2025. On the basketball court, the men's team plays a road game at Mount St. Mary's Tuesday, November 17, while the women's team hosts Towson Friday, November 20 at 5:30 PM at Stabler Arena for a DJ Night promotion. The Zoellner Arts Center calendar lists no dated public performance inside this window; check zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu for the latest.

At Moravian University, the men's basketball team travels to Wilkes University Saturday, November 21 for a Landmark Conference game; check moraviansports.com for tip time. The women's team continues its early-season road stretch in November, with the full schedule at moraviansports.com/sports/wbkb/2026-27/schedule. Football wrapped its 100th season November 14, so the Greyhounds are idle this Saturday. Payne Gallery at 346 Main Street keeps free public hours Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4:00 PM; confirm the current show at moravian.edu/art/payne-gallery.

The Week Ahead in One Glance

• Mon Nov 16: Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners 7:00 PM, Municipal Building, 3535 Orth Street.
• Tue Nov 17: Lehigh men's basketball at Mount St. Mary's.
• Wed Nov 18: Bethlehem Township meeting rescheduled from November 25, 3535 Orth Street; confirm the agenda.
• Thu Nov 19: Wynonna Judd at Wind Creek 8:00 PM.
• Fri Nov 20: Christmas City Village opens 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Christkindlmarkt third weekend opens 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Lehigh women's basketball vs Towson 5:30 PM at Stabler Arena.
• Sat Nov 21: Lehigh vs Lafayette, The Rivalry, 12:30 PM at Fisher Stadium; Silver & Gold Holiday Cocktail Trails noon to 5:00 PM; Mark Normand at Wind Creek 8:00 PM; Moravian men's basketball at Wilkes.
• Sun Nov 22: Christkindlmarkt 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

As always, event details, times, and lineups can change, so confirm directly with the township, city, school, venue, or university before heading out. I research this roundup fresh every week from official and current sources, and I never publish an event I cannot verify.

While you are out enjoying a holiday week in Bethlehem, remember that 3650 Stephen Crane Ln in Hanover Farms is listed at $414,900, with 3 bedrooms plus an office or possible 4th bedroom, 1.5 baths, an in-ground pool, and a covered patio. To arrange a private tour, call Tim Tepes at (484) 275-0056 or use the contact page.