Bethlehem offers many different job opportunities within their historical sites, but they also do well in nourishing small businesses. A few of their locally owned businesses include The Barber Pill, Smmackin Sammiches, Belisaire Painting & Home Improvements, Crowned by CJ & C, roofing contractors, lawyers, electriicans, and may other professions. All kinds of small businesses flourish in the town, especially the small food businesses. The wide range of eating locations makes for a tasteful and diverse variety of options. They offer foods from New Orleans at The Bayou Southern Kitchen and Bar, Mediterranean at Milan’s Bistro, Thai at Thai Thai II, and plenty of others.
Bethlehem even has vegan options at Vegan Treats Inc. Its founder, Danielle Konya, set out with a goal to bring ethical eating options to Bethlehem and started by creating her first famous peanut butter bomb cake. She’s expanded her business over the years and now delivers to customers throughout the Tri-State area as well as surrounding areas of Washington DC. Danielle is one success story of many throughout Bethlehem. They also maintain countless large-scale businesses such as Walgreens, Domino’s, Dunkin’, Little Caesar’s, along with others. Businesses of all kinds and all sizes are welcomed and embraced in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The people in Bethlehem are nothing short of warm and inviting. A big part of their community lives is the events that the town organizes. They have Musikfest, as mentioned before, but this is just one of many. To some, they’re known as the “City of Festivals,” because of the copious amounts of events that they hold. Annually, they host around 10 major festivals along with another 150 smaller festivals, as well as community events. Some of their events include Summer Spirit Cocktail Trail, Soup Saunter, Winter Restaurant Week, Bethlehem Vegfest, and more. One event that began this May and is still ongoing until the 22nd of July is the Tunes at Twilight. Every Thursday night in Historic Downtown Bethlehem, locals and visitors can go to select Tunes hotspots along Main and Broad Streets to listen to the music. Anyone can listen while dining in outdoor parklets or even while shopping at some of Bethlehem’s locally owned businesses. Bethlehem’s community events are a big part of what creates the close-knit bond between locals as well as the small-town atmosphere that exists, which is why even the pandemic couldn’t put a hold on their fun. Additionally, the town also held several virtual events including the Downtown Dual, Chef’s Corner, and Shopping Network. All the events create cheerful energy and offer great opportunities for locals and newcomers alike to share experiences.
Another big part of the community in Bethlehem is the celebration of Christmas. The town was christened on Christmas Eve in 1741 in a stable with the presence of a small group of Moravains who sang hymns. The town is often referred to as the Christmas City of the US, and because of this, Christmas is a large affair in Bethlehem and numerous events are held to celebrate. Some of these events include Huts on Main, Santa’s Haus, Holiday Shopping Pass, A Merry Little Shop & Stroll, and many others. Trees throughout the Historic Moravain District are adorned with sparkling lights and the whole town shines with Christmas spirit. There’s even a live Advent Calendar where a downtown merchant appears from the door of the historic Goundie House on Main Street with gifts for whoever is there. Another holiday event that’s hosted are the Gingerbread Games. Here, participants purchase a 2 foot Gingerbread Friend, and then decorate it. The gingerbreads are then taken and displayed throughout the area where another event, Christmas Hits on Main, takes place as well down the pathway into “Christmas at the Quarter” at the Historic Colonial Industrial Quarter. No matter what seasons it may be, Bethlehem always has an event for everyone to share and enjoy together.
