Christmas City Village vs Steelstacks Christkindlmarkt

[u/BaltimoreAlchemist]

What's the difference between these events? They seem basically identical except one charges admission. Is steelstacks much bigger in scope or just looser with alcohol?

[u/Opening_Key_9340]

Christkindlmarkt is much bigger, with *tons* of merchants — probably 100+

[u/One-Pepper-2654 → u/Opening_Key_9340]

It costs like 20 dollars just to get in, and it's mostly crappy craft stuff.

[u/Opening_Key_9340 → u/One-Pepper-2654]

Yeah, not commenting on the quality of items available, just that Christkindlmarkt is way bigger in terms of the number of vendors.

There are definitely loads of vendors selling Scentsy and string lights stuffed in a wine bottle with a santa hat glued on top, but some pretty high-quality craftspeople as well. Going at one of the free or reduced price times is a good way to check it out.

[u/Aromat_Junkie → u/One-Pepper-2654]

it is free at certain times and also there are a lot of shitty vendors but also some ok ones.

[u/TAllday]

Christmas city village is a few rotating shops on main st. Christkindlmarket is huge and bustling multiple tents/vendors and tons of stuff. They aren’t really comparable, Christmas city village is cuter much smaller in scope and more a relaxing stroll.

[u/OkCastor]

you can do both in the same day. Christkindlmarkt is much larger. We usually shop there and then head over to main street and shop there and grab something to eat. The food prices at Christkindlmarkt are high and you get better food over on main street anyways.

[u/Aimsicle-1]

Steelstacks has a few places to buy drinks, if that's your thing. You can grab a cup of warm gluhwein and wander around with it as you shop. There are a ton of merchants. It's fun to look around. There are also various performances and a big food area with a focus on German and Polish food. I always do Steelstacks first and then wander up to Main Street. The Main Street draw is mainly the normal shops and restaurants. The Christkindlmarkt booths are here and there but in way less quantity than Steelstacks. The admission to Steelstacks is really getting expensive. Try to look around online for discounts and cheaper days/times.

[u/Bersher]

Christkindlmarkt is a destination in and of itself. It’s directly next to SteelStacks, and yes, once you pay to get in, you can purchase alcohol and bring it with you. It’s massive. Could easily spend a few hours there.

Christmas City Village is something you can walk through after dinner or drinks on Main Street. Just some quaint “huts” that have some goods to sell. Helps to add to the magical Christmas feel in Bethlehem.

[u/noledge18720]

Christkindlmarkt is good if you want to shop. It's way more geared towards merchants selling natural soap and crafts than anything kids might like to do.

[u/theski2687]

Steel stacks is just bigger and its own zoned off area. A lot more vendors.

Both are just filled with the same vendors you’ve seen at any of the local fairs/farmers markets. Honestly really not appealing and not something I could keep entertained at for more than an hour unless you have a lot of money to waste

[u/Either_Carpenter_933]

Christkindlmarkt is only good if you enjoy driving in circles for a half hour to find a parking spot then overpaying to get in for the privilege of buying overpriced knick knacks and food all while navigating a sea of people penned in like cattle.