The most wonderful time of the year…to enjoy the Arts and Culture of the Lehigh Valley! These festive months are full of chances to celebrate, creating memories to last a lifetime. Catch a holiday themed dance or theatre performance, listen to the songs of the season, shop handmade for cherished gifts, or create a holiday craft perfect for giving.
Here’s your guide to get into the spirit of the season with the Arts!
DANCE:
- 12/9
Let’s Go Nutz: excerpts from The Nutcracker with a jazz twist.
Repertory Dance Theatre
Fri 7pm, Miller Symphony Hall - 12/10 & 12/11
The Nutcracker: classic ballet performed to live music
Repertory Dance Theatre
Sat & Sun 2pm, Miller Symphony Hall - 12/17 & 12/18
The Nutcracker: performed to live music
Ballet Guild of the LV / PA Youth Ballet
Sat 1 & 4pm, Sun 2pm, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University
EXHIBITIONS:
- 12/2-12/23
Holiday Art Mart: handmade items by local artisans
The Art Establishment
open during business hours - 12/4
Holiday Art Sale & Open House: various artists showcased
Art Is Inn
Sun 11am-4pm - 12/1-12/22
Holiday Gift Gallery: unique, handcrafted items by regional artists and artisans
Baum School of Art
Reception: Thu 12/1, 6-8pm - 11/21/16-1/8/17
Baby, It’s Cold Outside: collection of historic winter wear
Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts - 11/21/16-1/8/17
Bethlehem’s Christmas, 1741: explores the historic first Christmas in Bethlehem
Moravian Museum of Bethlehem - 11/21/16-2/12/17
Historic Trees of Bethlehem: decorated trees inspired by popular Christmas carols, prepared by Bethlehem Garden Club
Moravian Museum, Kemerer Museum, 1810 Goundie House, Luckenbach Mill - 12/9
Deck the Halls – An American Celebration of Christmas, Part I: Candlelight tours of the Sigal Museum, Bachmann Publik House, and Mixsell-Illick Museum
Fri 6-8pm - 12/10
Deck the Halls – An American Celebration of Christmas, Part II: Candlelight tours of the Sigal Museum, Bachmann Publik House, and Mixsell-Illick Museum – each site is decorated appropriately
Sat 1-4pm. $10; $5/ages 6-12; free/ages 5 & under - 12/15
Spotlight Artist Talk/Ugly Holiday Sweater Party: Diane Hutchinson, don your ugliest sweater to win a prize
Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
Thurs 5-7pm. $10
KIDS & TEENS:
- 12/1 & 12/2
Broadway Christmas Wonderland: Santa takes you on a musical Christmas journey
Thu & Fri 7pm, State Theatre Center for the Arts
$60; $55 - 12/3
Show Stoppers: student performers present holiday music
Arts Academy Charter Middle School
Cedar Crest College, Tompkins Center
Sat noon & 4pm
$8 in advance; $10 at door - 12/18
Holiday Marionettes & Elves: with Mock Turtle Marionettes
Sun 1pm, America On Wheels
event included in museum admission - 12/29
Big Dipper New Year’s Eve Daytime Party: for children and adults
Thu 11:30am-3:30pm, America On Wheels
event included in museum admission
MEDIA ARTS:
- Christmas Classic Series:
All movies: 1:30pm. $10; $8/seniors & students
ArtsQuest, Steelstacks Campus
12/1-12/3: White Christmas
12/8-12/10: Miracle on 34th Street
12/15-12/17: It’s a Wonderful Life - Holiday Quote-a-Long Series:
All movies: 7:30pm. $10; $8/seniors & students
ArtsQuest, Steelstacks Campus
12/7: Bad Santa
12/14: Scrooged
12/15-12/17: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
MUSIC:
- 12/2
Elisabeth von Trapp & The Carolian Brass: granddaughter carries on the legacy of the Trapp Family Singers, with holiday classics
Kutztown University, Schaeffer Auditorium
Fri 7:30pm. $28; $14 students - 12/3
Christmas Concert: choir celebrates its 33rd year
Bach & Handel Chorale
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Sat noon & 3pm. $15; free under age 10
PURCHASE TICKETS - 12/3
A Moravian Christmas Experience: choir, organ & brass
Central Moravian Church
Sat 1:30pm. $10 suggested donation - 12/3
Winter Concert
Bel Canto Children’s Chorus of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
Sat 4pm. $12; $11 seniors & students - 12/3
Holiday Recital
Community Music School
Miller Symphony Hall
Sat 3pm. Free – will offering - 12/6
Christmas Concert: Tim Zimmerman and the King’s Brass
Central Moravian Church
Tue 7:30pm - 12/9
The Spirit of Christmas: The New York Tenors
State Theatre Center for the Arts
Fri 8pm. $69; $49; $39 - 12/9
Holiday Show: Chapin Family
Musikfest Cafe, Steelstacks Campus
Fri 7:30pm. $59; $49 - 12/10
Advent Choral Performance: traditional German and English carols
Lehigh Valley Meistersingers
Muhlenberg College, Egner Chapel
Sat 4pm
- 12/10 & 12/11
Christmas Oratorio, parts 4, 5 & 6
Bach Choir of Bethlehem
Sat 8pm, First Presbyterian Church of Allentown
Sun 4pm, First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem
$37; $9 students - 12/11
Because It’s Christmas! a variety of seasonal selections, some with instruments
The Emmaus Chorale
at Faith Presbyterian Church
Sun 3pm. Free - 12/11
Christmas Vespers
Lehigh University Choral Arts
Sun 4 & 8pm, Packer Memorial Church, Free - 12/11
Tales Beneath a Northern Star: The Wizards of Winter band plays Trans Siberian Orchestra’s greatest hits
State Theatre Center for the Arts
Sun 4pm. $35; $29 - 12/11
Holiday Concert
Parkland High School Chorale
Neffs UCC
Sun 7pm. Free - 12/11
Christmas Concert
Pioneer Band of Allentown
Cedarbrook Nursing Home
Sun 2pm. Free - 12/15
Christmas Concert
Pioneer Band of Allentown
Phoebe Nursing Home
Thur 6:45pm. Free - 12/16
Christmas Concert: with the Lehigh Valley Men’s Chorale
Allentown Band
Northeast Middle School
Fri 7:30pm. $10 - 12/16
Jay Smar, Coal & Christmas: local favorites and historic coal country songs
Summit Hill Heritage Center
Fri 7pm. $5 at the door - 12/16
Winter Instrumental Concert
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
Fri 7pm - 12/17
Christmas Concert
Camerata Singers & Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra
First Presbyterian Church of Allentown
Sat 7:30pm. $15-$30, free students - 12/18
Christmas Concert: Vox Philia choral ensemble
The Arts at St. John’s
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Sun 4pm. Free – will offering
- 12/18
Canadian Brass: Christmas Time is Here!
Miller Symphony Hall
Sun 7pm. $45; $35 - 12/18
Handel Messiah Sing-Along: soloists, organ, and audience participation
Cathedral Church of the Nativity
Sun 7pm. $10 suggested donation - 12/20
A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols: organ, harp, flute, and choir in a beautiful telling of the Christmas story
Cathedral Church of the Nativity
Tue 7pm. $10 suggested donation - 12/22
Swingin’ the Holidays: Rob Stoneback Big Band
Musikfest Cafe, Steelstacks Campus
Thu 7:30pm. $22; $18 - 12/25
Organ Noels: music for the holidays
Cathedral Church of the Nativity
Sun 3pm. $10 suggested donation - 12/27
Holiday Parrot Party: Jimmy & the Parrots
Musikfest Cafe, Steelstacks Campus
Tue 8pm. In advance: $12; $10 / Day of show: $15; $12 - 12/31
New Year’s Eve Spectacular: Red Elvises
Musikfest Cafe, Steelstacks Campus
Sat 9pm. In advance: $15- $89 / Day of show: $20-$99
SPECIAL EVENTS:
- 11/18-12/18
Christkindlmarkt: family holiday marketplace with gifts made by regional & national artists
Steelstacks Arts Campus
Nov: Fri-Sun; Dec: Thu-Sun
Times & full info - 11/25/16-1/8/17
Christmas City Stroll: walking tour of downtown Bethlehem
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites
$15; $9/children - 12/3
Old Fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas: holiday games, carols, baking and more
Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum
Troxwell Steckel Farm Museum
Sat 11:30am – 4pm. $8; $3/children - 12/4
Historical Town-Wide Celebration of Christmas: Heritage Center, Historical Society, and churches with holiday displays
Summit Hill Heritage Center
Sun 2-5pm - 12/5
Holiday Open House: music and light fare, tours of the homestead
Saucon Valley Conservancy
Heller Homestead
Mon 6-9pm. Free - 12/10 & 12/11
Holiday Craft Show
Summit Hill Heritage Center
Sat 10am-4pm; Sun noon-5pm - 12/11
Artisan Craft Fair: local and international artists
Jewish Community Center of the Allentown
Sun 10am-5pm - 12/14
Christmas Sing-a-Long
Summit Hill Heritage Center
Wed 7pm - 12/30 & 12/31
Peepsfest: family fun with live music, arts and crafs, etc
ArtsQuest & Just Born
SteelStacks Arts Campus
Fri 10am-4pm; Sat 10am-5:30pm - 1/14/17
Winter Princess & Me Tea: hosted by Snow Princess and her court
Summit Hill Heritage Center
Sat 1-3pm. $30/Mom and one princess; $10/addtl sibling; $20/addtl adult
THEATRE:
- 11/30-12/11
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story: this play gave birth to the television series The Waltons
Act 1 DeSales University
Wed-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm; additional 2pm show, Sat 12/3. $27-$30 - 12/1-12/18
Christmas City Follies XVII: annual dose of jolly mischief, merry melodies, and holiday cheer
Touchstone Theatre
Thu-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm; addtl 2pm show on Sat 12/17. $25; $15/seniors and students - 12/2-12/17
A Christmas Carol: 27th year tradition
Civic Theatre of Allentown
Thu & Fri 7:30pm; Sat 2 & 7:30pm (except 12/3, 7:30pm showing only); Sun 2pm. $23-$28 - 12/8-12/17
Down of a Thistle: comic melodrama about nine women snowbound in an Adirondack lodge on Christmas
Crowded Kitchen Players
Unicorn Theatre
Thu & Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm. $18; $14/seniors; $10/students - 12/9-12/18
The Santaland Diaries: one-man play telling the author’s experiences as an unemployed writer taking a job as an elf at Macy’s in NYC
Civic Theatre of Allentown
Thu-Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2pm. $23-$28
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES:
- 12/3
Colorful Fleece Scarf: learn no-sew technique to create a colorful fringed scarf
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites
Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
Sat 11am-2pm. $12; free for ages 4-17 - 12/7 & 12/14
Cast Paper Ornaments: use recycled paper, paint and decorative materials to make holiday ornaments
Banana Factory
Wed 7-9pm. $50
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