What's Happening in Bethlehem This Week: November 23-29, 2026

The week of Monday, November 23 through Sunday, November 29, 2026 is Thanksgiving week in Bethlehem, and the holiday season is in full swing. The city lights its Christmas tree Friday at Payrow Plaza, Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem runs its fourth weekend at SteelStacks, Christmas City Village stays open Friday through Sunday, the Historic Bethlehem Turkey Trot fills Saturday morning, Udit Narayan and Aditya Narayan headline Wind Creek, and Lehigh hosts Binghamton in basketball. 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. Township offices close Thursday, November 26 for Thanksgiving, and curbside leaf collection continues through late November or the first week of December, weather permitting. 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, Thanksgiving week is the heart of the Christmas City season. Christmas City Village, the free outdoor holiday shopping village, is open Friday through Sunday, November 27-29 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Main and Broad Streets and continues its weekend run through December 20. The City of Bethlehem Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place Friday, November 27 at Payrow Plaza with live holiday music, family activities, and a visit from Santa. The Historic Bethlehem Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Walk runs Saturday, November 28, hosted by Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites. The Trees of Historic Bethlehem exhibition, with more than 20 decorated trees spread across three historic sites, continues alongside Christmas City Stroll and Bethlehem By Night motorcoach tours.

At SteelStacks, Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem holds its fourth weekend Friday through Sunday, November 27-29 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. A special presentation, "An 'Old Fashioned' Christmas, presented by EDRINGTON," is scheduled at Christkindlmarkt on Sunday, November 29 at 2:30 PM. The market brings artisan vendors, food, live music, and St. Nicholas visits; see artsquest.org/christkindlmarkt for the full schedule. Downtown, a Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl is planned for Wednesday, November 25.

Bethlehem Township holds no Board of Commissioners meeting in this window; the board's regular meeting fell Monday, November 16 at 7:00 PM in the Municipal Building, 3535 Orth Street. Township offices close Thursday, November 26 for Thanksgiving. Leaf collection continues through mid-December, weather permitting. Confirm the latest on the township calendar at bethlehemtownship.org.

Bethlehem Area School District, Freedom, and Liberty

The Bethlehem Area School District runs a short school week before the Thanksgiving break. Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24 are regular school days, and schools are closed Wednesday, November 25 through Monday, November 30 for the Thanksgiving holiday per the published 2026-2027 calendar. Students return Tuesday, December 1.

With the district closed, no Freedom or Liberty varsity athletic contests are scheduled during the break, and winter sports seasons resume once school returns in December. For the definitive day-by-day varsity athletics calendar, check the district's events page at basdschools.org. Families can also check the Freedom and Liberty school sites for any holiday-season announcements.

Good Places to Eat in Bethlehem

Fresh picks for the tree lighting and Christkindlmarkt weekends, all real, verifiable places and a short drive from Hanover Farms:

• Billy's Downtown Diner at 10 East Broad Street is a longtime downtown breakfast and lunch spot with a 4.3-star average across more than 250 reviews.
• Williams Spanish Restaurant at 838 Linden Street serves Puerto Rican and Spanish fare on the South Side.
• Sibris Restaurant at 147 East Broad Street is a downtown Italian mainstay near the historic district.
• Aqui Es: A Taste of Mexico at 821 Linden Street serves Mexican favorites with a 4.4-star average across about 22 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.

Many restaurants adjust hours around Thanksgiving, so call ahead on the holiday and the tree-lighting weekend; the downtown rooms fill fast.

Events at Wind Creek Bethlehem

One show anchors Thanksgiving week at the Wind Creek Event Center at 77 Wind Creek Boulevard. Udit Narayan and Aditya Narayan bring The Legacy Tour Friday, November 27 at 8:30 PM, a live concert by the celebrated Indian playback singer and his son performing in Hindi, English, and multilingual repertoire. Tickets run through the venue's official channels at windcreekeventcenter.com.

Lehigh University and Moravian University

Both universities are on Thanksgiving break this week. At Lehigh University, the men's basketball team hosts Binghamton University Tuesday, November 24 in Bethlehem; tip time is announced on the official schedule at lehighsports.com. No public arts performance is confirmed on the Zoellner Arts Center calendar inside this window; check zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu for the latest.

At Moravian University, the university is closed for Thanksgiving break November 26-29, and no home basketball game is listed for this window; the men's and women's teams continue their early-season schedules, with the full slate at moraviansports.com. 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

• Tue Nov 24: Lehigh men's basketball hosts Binghamton; last regular school day before the break.
• Wed Nov 25: BASD closed for Thanksgiving; Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl downtown.
• Thu Nov 26: Thanksgiving Day; township and city offices closed.
• Fri Nov 27: City Christmas Tree Lighting at Payrow Plaza; Christkindlmarkt fourth weekend opens 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Christmas City Village 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Udit Narayan and Aditya Narayan at Wind Creek 8:30 PM.
• Sat Nov 28: Historic Bethlehem Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Walk; Christkindlmarkt 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
• Sun Nov 29: Christkindlmarkt 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; "An 'Old Fashioned' Christmas" at 2:30 PM; Christmas City Village 11:00 AM to 7:00 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 Thanksgiving 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.