UPDATE: Top 10 things to know about Bethlehem’s World Heritage Community Celebration! (Click here)
Moravian Church Settlements is celebrating their UNESCO World Heritage designation with its community partners—the City of Bethlehem, area faith communities, and cultural organizations—by throwing a fun-filled block party from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
This family-friendly event will extend from Payrow Plaza at City Hall to Moravian settlement buildings in downtown Bethlehem. Food trucks will line Church Street; hands-on activities and area organizations will be spread throughout the Moravian settlement. Festivities include a Moravian sugar cake competition, live entertainment, site tours, Moravian crafts and more. The party will end with a Lovefeast and an ice cream social on the church’s lower Church Green.
Activity Highlights
- This community celebration will honor the Moravian Church Settlements, Bethlehem World Heritage designation and will feature a presentation of the World Heritage plaque at noon on Central Moravian Church’s Lower Church Green.
- Live music, children’s activities, and community booths, will be available until 5 p.m. – both on the church green and at the city center (Payrow Plaza, by the Bethlehem Library).
- Historic demonstrations will be ongoing throughout the festival. Guests will learn about Bethlehem’s rich heritage and enjoy a hands-on experience learning about traditional Moravian crafts and industries.
- The Johnston Festival Memorial Concert will be at 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Central Moravian Church and will feature the Mainstreet Brass, SATORI, and the festival choir. This concert is free, and no tickets are required.
- A Community Lovefeast and ice cream social, sponsored by Bethlehem Area Moravians (BAM), will follow the concert outside on the church’s Lower Green at 5 PM.
Opportunities available
- If you are a Moravian Sugarcake baker—enter the Moravian Sugar cake contest by emailing [email protected]
- Volunteers are needed to help assist with event setup and teardown. Whether you have an hour or the day, volunteers are welcome. To learn more, contact Silagh White at [email protected].
The Bethlehem location, along with Christiansfeld, Denmark; Gracehill, Northern Ireland; and Herrnhut, Germany, were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in July 2024. Bethlehem joins other United States sites with this special designation like the Statue of Liberty, Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park.
For more information, go to the event webpage at https://moravianchurchsettlements.org/event-preview/
