Follow The Star To Bethlehem: Christmas Festival

O’ little town of Bethlehem…where thousands make an annual appearance to experience the true heart of Christmas in the quaint town of Bethlehem, Connecticut.

To get into the proper holiday spirit, beginning on Friday, Dec. 1 through Sun. Dec. 3, people of all ages gathered on the town’s green to spend their night at the 2017 Christmas Town Festival. Festivals galore start the holiday season right in the Litchfield Hills, giving families opportunities to check off their holiday shopping list in scenic settings. The only dilemma is where to go first.

Once off the shuttle bus, visitors of New England’s favorite Christmas town are met with 70-plus vendors offering original crafts, food, musical entertainment, kids’ activities, hayrides, photos with Santa, and more.

Beginning at 5 p.m, the festival kicked off with it’s opening ceremony, featuring honorary emcee WFSB Channel 3 Anchor Nicole Nalepa, greeting and tree lighting, in addition to the Woodbury Middle School Chorus and Nonnewaug Band and Singers. Once the ceremony is concluded, visitors were free to roam the town and experience all that the festival’s vendors have to offer.

Martha Jenner, resident of Washington, CT, says this is her fourth year participating in the festival. “Although this is my fourth year doing this, I still get just as excited every time.” Like Jenner and many other vendors, most of the goods sold to customers are homemade. Located in both Bethlehem’s Library and Town Hall, numerous vendors set up stations of baked goodies, selling at just little of a dollar for a bag of your choice of cookies.

“I really enjoy baking, so why not bake a few batches of cookies for the festival,” Jenner said.

Also located in the upper level of the Town Hall were the ornament sales. Vendors from across the state were welcome to sell their original crafted ornaments made for the holiday season, ranging from prices of five to 20 dollars.

Morris, CT resident, Molly Dermot and her family have been attending the Christmas Town Festival for a few years now. “We just moved here just a little over 2 years ago and ever since we try to go to the festival every December,” Dermot said. “Buying these Christmas ornaments has started to be a holiday tradition.”

Many food and craft stations were also located along side the roads throughout the town as residents walked around. Fried dough, mozzarella sticks, apple cider donuts, hot cider and hot chocolate were being sold, alongside outside vendors selling homemade blankets, sweaters and socks.

Scheduled at 7 p.m. was the Chime-In Bell Choir concert located in the Christ Church, following the book sale in the Library till 9 p.m. Kids were given the chance to take pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Clause, as well as ride the Christmas Town “Roaming Railroad.”

It’s safe to say that Bethlehem’s annual Christmas Town Festival is fun for the whole family, perfectly capturing the holiday spirit. From food, crafts and Christmas activities and decorations, it’s almost as if the town has transformed into the North Pole at this time of year each December.