Free things to do in Bethlehem
6 places in Bethlehem with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.
Free things to do in Bethlehem
- See
Colonial Industrial Quarter
This area contains a few of Bethlehem's early buildings, like the 1761 Tannery, 1762 Waterworks (a National Historic Landmark), the 1869 Luckenbach Mill, and the Miller's House Garden (an 1870 Victorian garden). The area is right along the Monocacy Creek, so it's a great place to take a walk or even fish, right downtown (if you have a license).
Free
- Do
Musikfest
Musikfest is an annual 10-day music festival that takes place in the beginning of August. Over a million people visit the festival every year. All of the hundreds of concerts, save the headlining acts, are free of charge, and take place at various "platzes" set up around the historic district. Past performers include Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Clinton and Ludacris. The food is top-notch (if expensive) as well, with everything from fried Oreos to gyros, and there are activities for children as well. Check out the polka tent for the festival's only dance floor and the famous "Chicken Lady," a local legend.
Free
- Do
Russian Days Festival
Celebrated at the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, this festival includes Russian food and beer, arts and crafts, and desserts. Admission is free. Held September.
- Do Not mapped
Local high school athletics
Bethlehem's three largest high schools, Bethlehem Catholic, Freedom, and Liberty, all participate in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, which includes the 18 largest high schools from the Lehigh Valley and Poconos and is often ranked as one of the best in the state and nation. In 2008, Liberty High School won Pennsylvania's Division AAAA state championship in football. Although Liberty won in 2008, Freedom Football and Freedom Family have raised some of the biggest football stars, including Joe Young and Dwyane Johnson, and have beat Liberty for many years in a row. In addition to football, Bethlehem's girls and boys basketball and wrestling events are also very highly attended. All three of Bethlehem's high schools play their home football games at Frank Banko Field at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium, one of the largest high school stadiums in the state, located at 1115 Linden St.
Free-$2
- Do Not mapped
Annual Bethlehem Bach Festival
Takes place during the first weekends in May.
Free
- Do Not mapped
Harvest Festival
Takes place at the beginning of October.
Free
Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bethlehem (CC BY-SA 4.0).