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All aboard The Christmas Express! Bellefonte Victorian Christmas returns for 43rd year

By HUNTER SMITH hsmith@lockhaven.com 5 min read

BELLEFONTE -- Climb aboard "The Christmas Express" this weekend as Bellefonte Victorian Christmas ushers in the holidays with timeless traditions, enchanting entertainment and festive cheer.

Returning for its 43rd year this weekend, Dec. 13-15, the beloved event transforms downtown Bellefonte into a nostalgic winter wonderland, complete with horse-drawn carriages, holiday markets and musical performances inspired by this year's theme, "The Christmas Express."

Step off the train and into Dickensian times with Historic Bellefonte, Inc. for the opening ceremony on Friday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m., along Howard Street near the Miles-Humes House, home of the Centre County Historical Museum. The evening will showcase the sounds of the Victorian Brass Band, captivating vignettes from Class Act Productions, a magical performance by Richard Benninghoff and a special proclamation from Mayor Buddy Johnson.

Following the mayor's proclamation, opening night will conclude with enchanting dual concerts by the Nittany Valley Symphony and the Bellefonte Community Choir at the Bellefonte Presbyterian Church.

For those eager to keep the celebration going Friday night, email christmasinbellefonte@gmail.com to join the waitlist for the "Christmas Cordial" at nearby State Burger Co. for music, drinks and hors d'oeuvres. The Christmas Cordial is one of several special ticketed events. While many have already sold out, be sure to visit bellefontevictorianchristmas.com/category/special-ticketed-events/ to see which events still have open spots.

On Saturday, Dec. 14, you can begin your day festively with Breakfast with Santa at Faith United Methodist Church at 512 Hughes Street. Enjoy free crafts and activities, including Chip Mock Caricatures and the Adam Swartz Puppet Show. An optional full breakfast is available for $6 per adult and $3 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

After breakfast, join the Christmas Music Crawl from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by hopping between venues throughout Downtown Bellefonte. The festive performances will continue into Sunday evening, bringing holiday cheer to every corner of downtown Bellefonte. For details on times, locations and performers, visit bellefontevictorianchristmas.com/concert-crawl/.

On your stroll around town, visit the Victorian Christmas Arts and Crafts Show in the YMCA and Bellefonte Elementary School, the outdoor Winter Market in Talleyrand Park or one of Bellefonte's many quaint shops, many of which are decorated for season.

Extra, limited-edition Bellefonte Victorian Christmas cookie tins from the third annual BVC Cookie Crawl will be available at the Winter Market. Unfortunately, these extra tins are not eligible for participation in the sold-out event. Anyone, however, may vote in the community Gingerbread House competition! The houses will be on display all weekend at the Diamond Deli at 103 North Allegheny Street.

In front of the courthouse, enjoy hourly vignettes from Class Act Productions' show, "Christmas Carol on the Rails," Friday and Saturday. Catch Stave I: "A Ghostly Engineer" on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Miles-Humes House (Centre County Historical Museum). On Saturday, continue the journey at the Courthouse Steps with Staves II-V performed every hour, on the hour between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Saturday's fun will culminate at the Christmas Express Holiday Dinner Party. Held at the American Philatelic Society at 6:30 p.m., guests can expect delicious food and entertainment. To help facilitate your holiday fun, free parking and shuttle service will be available on Saturday at the Bellefonte High School from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For those parking downtown, on Jan. 16, 2024, the Bellefonte Borough Council approved courtesy parking for the 2024 holiday season. From Nov. 29 to Jan. 1, 2025, parking enforcement will issue complimentary two-hour passes to those whose meters run out.

"We encourage you to use this opportunity to do some holiday shopping in beautiful downtown Bellefonte," wrote the council.

Throughout the weekend, be sure to tour the Festival of Trees at The Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology. See more than 60 decorated trees, enjoy live entertainment, a basket raffle, scavenger hunt, tree competition, poinsettia sale, letter writing to Santa, a visit from St. Nick himself and much more! Proceeds from the Festival of Trees will help support CPI Student Organizations.

Still need help getting into the Christmas spirit? Immerse yourself in the season with a scenic ride aboard a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Bellefonte, or take a trip back in time with a train ride provided by the Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society. Afterwards, consider viewing the model train display at Belle Mercantile or make some crafts at the Bellefonte Art Museum or Bellefonte Library.

To prepare for your perfect holiday weekend, visit the event website at bellefontevictorianchristmas.com or pick up a guidebook. Some events require tickets and may sell out, so plan ahead! And make sure to follow @BellefonteVictorianChristmas on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Funding for this event was provided through a grant made possible by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and the Centre County Board of Commissioners. Organizers gave special thanks to their corporate sponsor, North Shore Railroad Company & Affiliates, for their generous contributions.

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