Things to do in Bethlehem

21 activities, venues and outings in Bethlehem, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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Bethlehem Municipal Golf Club
Public golf course within the city. For those looking for just a round on the links on the cheap, the city course will do the trick. Also see Saucon Valley Country Club below.
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Bethlehem Skateplaza
A 750-ft-long skateplaza offers BMX riders and skateboarders a safe place to ride across from Wind Creek Resort.
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Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Show
The Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Show runs from late March to early April. It is an annual display of over 200 vehicles.
$8
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Illick's Mill Park
One of Bethlehem's city parks, Illick's Mill Park offers ice skating (seasonal), pool (seasonal), the Bethlehem Municipal Golf Club (see above), a driving range, baseball fields, and a nature trail that runs along the Monocacy Creek.
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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
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Rose Garden Park
Rose Garden Park is on 8th Ave and offers playgrounds, a bandshell where the Music in the Park concerts are held, and the DAR House, a replica of the first log cabin built in Bethlehem.
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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.
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Sand Island Park
Sand Island Park is along the Lehigh River and offers playgrounds, hiking trails, basketball and tennis courts, and plenty of room for fishing.
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Saucon Valley Country Club
Saucon Valley Country Club is a world-class golf course just south of the city. The club's courses have been named among the best in the state, and the Old Course played host to the 2009 U.S. Women's Open. Inquire within for information on tee times and greens fees.
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SouthSide Film Festival
The South Side Film Festival started in 2004, and takes place every June. Films of all genres are accepted from any type of filmmaker. The film screenings are at several venues on the Lehigh University campus.
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St. Nicholas Fall Greek Food Festival
Local church festival featuring authentic Greek food. Held in September.
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Steel Ice Center
The Steel Ice Center houses daily public indoor ice skating on the South Side, along with open hockey sessions.
$3-6
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Wind Creek Bethlehem
formerly Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem
A casino (established 2009) with 3,000 slot machines, 89 tables, a 300-room hotel (May 2011) and 200,000 square feet of retail space on the formerly-industrial South Side. Part of a larger complex which includes the Museum of Industrial History (opened mid-2016) and which, when completed, will have over 40 stores at The Shoppes at Sands, 6 restaurants, 2 night clubs, a cineplex, 46,000 square feet of convention space, 18 meeting rooms and a concert hall.
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Blueberry Festival
The Blueberry Festival is held each July and features a classic car show and various products made from blueberries.
$8
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Celtic Classic
Celtic Classic is an annual festival in Bethlehem celebrating Celtic heritage. The festival is host to the U.S. National Highland Games and provides an environment filled with a wide variety of traditional elements. Included are traditional musicians, food vendors, clothing vendors, artists, and more. If you have a kilt, wear it. For the adventurous, taste the haggis, a traditional Scottish dish.
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Christmas in July Sidewalk Sale
Stores feature many discounts and bargains during this three-day event.
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Fireworks
Fireworks are shot off from Sand Island Park on July 4th, the end of Musikfest, and New Year's Eve.
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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
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Annual Bethlehem Bach Festival
Takes place during the first weekends in May.
Free
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Bethlehem Restaurant Week
January 31 through February 6.
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Harvest Festival
Takes place at the beginning of October.
Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bethlehem (CC BY-SA 4.0).