Adoption Agency | Adoptions From The Heart

For 25 years, Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt has been a holiday staple in the Lehigh Valley. This market has even received national recognition, being named twice as one of the best holiday markets in the country by Travel + Leisure. Whether you’re looking for someplace to buy unique gifts or to simply revel in the holiday spirit, our Allentown adoption agents highly recommend making a trip here each holiday season if you live in the Lehigh Valley. It’s not just a market, but a full sensory experience that brings out the best of the holiday spirit. Some of our favorite aspects of Christkindlmarkt include:

Handmade Gifts

Artisans from various states, and even some from Germany, sell their handmade crafts at Christkindlmarkt. You can find handmade pieces from artists from throughout Pennsylvania, along with New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina, Florida, New York, Maryland, Georgia, and more. Some of our favorite artisans from last year’s market included:

A Natural Alternative

This company sells naturally made soaps, which are free of many of the harmful additives found in commercially produced soaps. You may not realize it but preservatives, detergents, dyes, and phalates are not healthy, even though they’re found in most of the products by major soap manufacturers. A Natural Alternative sells great-smelling, healthy alternatives to these products.

BG Silversmiths

This company is run by Barry Gebhart, who used to work as a Bethlehem steelworker. He comes from a long tradition of this line of work, as his father and grandfather were also steelworkers. Their family has been making handmade silver products since 1969, and BG Silversmiths specializes in jewelry. At Christkindlmarkt and other markets throughout the region, you can find their unique necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings.

Chocolate Moonshine Co.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth on your shopping list (or if you’re just looking to treat yourself), Chocolate Moonshine Co. offers some of the tastiest artisan confectionaries we’ve ever tried. This family pours their heart and soul into this business, and you can tell by the results of their products. They use fresh cream from Pennsylvania, Belgian chocolate, and vanilla from Madagascar to whip out unbelievably rich gourmet fudges and candy bars.

Some of our favorite flavors include:

Belgian Chocolate Fudge
Key Lime
Chocolate Walnut
Pecan Turtle Fudge
Maple Walnut

First Fruits Apparel

This is a one-person enterprise, in which one woman combines her passions for textile arts and fashion to create wearable and decorate Asian-inspired art. These items make great gifts if you’re shopping for someone with a unique fashion sense and appreciation for Asian culture. Products include jackets, bags, and hand-painted scarves.

New World Glass

If you’re shopping for someone who’s a bit on the counter-cultural side, New World Glass makes gorgeous glass and wood jewelry with a slightly psychedelic slant. These pieces would make great gifts for music festival lovers or Dead-heads in your life. In fact, many of their pieces are specifically Grateful Dead inspired. They also sell jellyfish blown glass Christmas ornaments, which would make a striking addition to any tree.

Festive Features

Christkindlmarkt is an immersive experience outside of the shopping aisles. Some of our favorite aspects which enhance the holiday spirit here include: