Christmas Town Festival returns Dec. 7-8

BETHLEHEM — Bethlehem’s 38th Annual Christmas Town Festival will be held on Friday, Dec. 7, 5-10 p..m. and Saturday, Dec. 8, 99:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The festival does not continue on Sunday.

Highlights include a Roaming Railroad choo-choo train ride, a hay ride, many vendors selling handcrafted items just in time for holiday shopping, and a 5K Road Race on Saturday morning sponsored by the First Mile Race Management Company, plus a multitude of delicious food choices to make everyone’s visit complete.

The festival surrounds Bethlehem’s town green, at the junction of Route 61 and Route 132. All the buildings and churches participating in the festival will be brimming with activities and Christmas spirit. The opening ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Friday on the green, where WFSB Ch. 3 Anchor Nicole Nalepa will help Santa light the town’s 85foot Christmas tree. Santa will stay for the balance of the festival, giving families the opportunity to take their own memorable photos.

Admission to the festival is free. Parking at Bethlehem Fairgrounds, just north of town on Route 61, is also free. Shuttle busses between the fairgrounds and the festival are provided to festival attendees at no charge. Once at the festival, there is free face painting, and a free crafts workshop for children and their parents. The “Chime In” Bell Choir as well as several entertainers will be providing free holiday music performance throughout the festival. Parking in town during the festival is by permit only, and is limited to the handicapped and vendors participating in the festival.

Thousands of visitors travel each year to the now famous Bethlehem Post office to make certain their Christmas cards are postmarked “Bethlehem”, and to hand stamp the envelopes with special holiday greetings from Bethlehem, CT. The Post Office will have extended hours during the days of the festival. To truly make this year’s Christmas special, the Christmas Town Festival’s 2018 limited edition pewter ornament will be available for purchase in the Town Hall. Over the years these ornaments have become very collectible, and this year’s edition should be no different.

Further information and details are available on our website: www.christamstownfestival.com, or by calling the Bethlehem Christmas Town Festival at 203-266-7510, ext. 400.