Join us for an old-fashioned Christmas celebration all around the Bethlehem Green on the first Friday and Saturday in December. It will feature music performances, a tree lighting, photos with Santa, a hayride, a book and cookie sale, crafts and gifts galore (indoors and out), food and refreshments, Santa's workshop, scavenger hunt, bell choir concerts, a 5K "Santa Made Me Do It" road race, and fun for the whole family.

The 2024 opening ceremony and tree lighting will be at 6:00 PM on Friday featuring Chaz from the "Chaz and AJ Show" on WPLR radio. Followed by an illuminated fire truck procession down Main Street.

5K race on Sat. morning along with a classic vehicle exhibition and decorating contest on Sat. afternoon.

The 85 foot tree on the Bethlehem Town Green ?is the largest decorated Christmas Tree in the area.  It is topped with a six foot tall eight pointed star of Bethlehem with 85 cool white LED lights around its perimeter.

All Around Christmas Town

Christmas Cachets

A visit to the Bethlehem Post Office to send holiday mail has become an annual tradition for many families. You can select one of the 85 “Christmas Cachet” designs to hand-stamp your holiday greetings before mailing them off to friends and family.

Where: 34 East Street  

Hours: Fri. Dec 6 from 8 am to 8 pm; Sat. Dec. 7 from 8:30 am to 3 pm

The Bethlehem Post Office has introduced a new cachet each year since 1938. There are now over 80 festive designs to decorate your holiday mail, all created by local residents, artists and children.

Where: Bethlehem Post office, 34 East Street  

Regina Laudis Abbey

The Abbey’s 18th-century Neapolitan Crèche was given to the Abbey by artist and philanthropist Loretta Hines Howard, who also donated a similar Crèche to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hand-carved figures of wood, terra cotta, jute and porcelain, vividly portray the Holy Family, angels, the Three Kings, merchants and peddlers, children, a lamplighter, a woman on her donkey transporting vegetables, peasants and farm animals.

Where: 249 Flanders Road

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A second Crèche at the Abbey, The Lauren Ford Crèche, is located in a small farm shed near the  Lower Abbey Chapel. This Crèche, created by revered Connecticut artist Lauren Ford, is a charming rustic Nativity scene with figures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph  dressed in New England clothes. The Abbey also opens to visitors its Monastic Art Shop, featuring all products of the  monastics' work on the land and in animal husbandry: crafts, beauty products, cheeses, jams and jellies,  herbal teas, flavored vinegars, herbs, and honey.

Bellamy-Ferriday House

Bethlehem’s beautiful eighteenth century Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden is located at the north end of the town green. Guides are on hand to give tours and inspire you to the way the one time owners of this historic home inspired past residents.

Where: 9 Main Street North

Hours and Admission: Call (203)266-7596 to book a tour

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Special Events:

Friday evening, December 6th

Illuminated Firetruck Procession

All along Main Street (after the tree lighting)

Saturday morning, December 7th

"Santa Made Me Do It" 5K

It's a 5K road race. Tell your friends that "Santa made you do it!" Join us again this year for a festive spot of fun!

WHEN Saturday, December 7, 2024 ?at 10:00 AM 

Park at the Bethlehem Fair Grounds, 384 Main St North, Bethlehem, CT.

To register go to: application

Saturday afternoon, December 7th

"Santa Cruise" Classic Vehicle Exhibition and Decorating Contest. ?There is no fee to enter by 11/20/24, and the 2024 event is open to all cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles, and tractors model year 1999 and older. Preregistration is required. Click here for details: Santa Cruise

Date: December 6-7, 2024

Time:

Friday, 5pm - 9:30pm
Saturday, 9:30am - 4pm

Location: Bethlehem, CT Town Green - Junction of Rte 61 and Rte 132

Admission: Free

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