NEWS RELEASE
DATE: Dec. 13, 2010
CONTACT: Mark Demko, 610-332-1342 or mdemko@artsquest.org
CHRISTKINDLMARKT SETS SINGLE-DAY ATTENDANCE RECORD
Last Four Days of 2010 Holiday Marketplace are Dec. 16-19
BETHLEHEM, PA—Nearly 7,700 visitors attended Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem® on Sat., Dec. 11, setting a new single-day attendance record for the event.
According to ArtsQuest, 7,673 people shopped the holiday marketplace, topping the previous record of 7,100 by more than 8 percent. Thanks in part to the new record attendance day, overall attendance for the four-day weekend (Thursday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 12) was 17,304, making it the third highest weekend attendance in the event’s 18-year history. The all-time weekend attendance record of 18,528 was set Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2006.
“The great weather, a busy group tour schedule and the fact that the holidays are right around the corner really brought people out to Christkindlmarkt and downtown Bethlehem to celebrate the season,” said ArtsQuest Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration Walter Keiper. “With so many events taking place in the city on Saturday, the entire downtown was busy all day long.”
Christkindlmarkt’s last weekend is Dec. 16-19, and Keiper says it presents an excellent opportunity for people to enjoy the arts and historic Bethlehem while finishing up any last-minute shopping for family and friends.
“With approximately 100 artisans on hand, there are literally thousands of unique and handcrafted gifts for people to choose from,” Keiper said. “Eighteen new artisans will be attending Christkindlmarkt this weekend, including 10 who have never appeared at the event before. Plus, there’s St. Nicholas, live music, ice carving and glassblowing demonstrations, and so much more for families to enjoy.”
Proceeds from Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem will go to support ArtsQuest’s arts and educational programs, including programs for at-risk youth at the Banana Factory community arts center. Although there are only four more days to visit Christkindlmarkt, the Christkindlmarkt tents will come alive with music, art and family fun after Christmas with the return of PEEPS® Fest, Dec. 29-31. The festival, presented by Just Born, Inc. and ArtsQuest, will feature three days of live music, fun children’s activities and PEEPS®-related programming culminating Dec. 31, 5:45 p.m., with the popular PEEPS® Chick drop and free fireworks display to welcome in the New Year.
For more information on Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem and PEEPS® Fest, visit www.artsquest.org.
ABOUT ARTSQUEST
ArtsQuest is a Bethlehem, PA-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting music, arts, cultural experiences and educational and outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization and community enrichment. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest®, and the Banana Factory® cultural arts and education center, ArtsQuest’s programming currently reaches more than 1.3 million people annually.
ArtsQuest is furthering its mission of celebrating arts and culture through the development of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. The 65,000-square-foot building, set to open in May 2011, will feature live music, independent and scientific films, new festivals and community celebrations year-round, reaching an additional 750,000 people each year.
For more information on ArtsQuest, visit www.artsquest.org or call 610-332-1300.
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