The yearly event cultivates participation from 250 Lehigh Valley neighborhoods.
New Bethany Inc. announced that the 28th annual Luminaria Night will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13. All funds raised will benefit New Bethany’s mission to offer hope and support to those experiencing poverty, hunger and homelessness.
For 28 years, communities across the Lehigh Valley have lit luminaria on a December Saturday, illuminating neighborhood streets and sidewalks and raising awareness of those in need. In 2024, over $125,000 was raised through kit purchases and donations, with more than 73,500 candles displayed throughout the Lehigh Valley.
“This has been an especially difficult year for so many families across the Lehigh Valley. With budget freezes, rising costs and increasing need, more of our neighbors are facing hardship than we’ve seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said J. Marc Rittle, executive director of New Bethany. “Luminaria Night has always been a symbol of hope, but this year, it means even more. When thousands of lights line our streets, they remind every struggling neighbor that our community sees them, supports them and refuses to let them face the darkness alone.”
Friends and neighbors can use an online platform to pre-order kits for delivery through their block captains. To order delivery through a block captain, visit https:/ /fundrazr.com/Luminaria2025ref=ab_661VHX4IPNY661VHX4IPNY or email luminaria@newbethany.org for assistance. Orders are due to neighborhood block captains by Dec. 1. If you do not have a block captain, please order for pickup.
Luminaria kits can be purchased in person from Monday, Dec. 3, to Thursday, Dec. 11, at:
- First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- New Bethany’s offices, 333 Wyandotte St., from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kits can also be purchased at the following pop-ups:
- Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe on Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Palmer Park Mall on Dec. 5, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- South Mall on Dec. 12, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
In 2024, 37 volunteers dedicated over 1,562 hours of work to ensure the night was a success.
Interested parties can sign up as a 2025 Luminaria Night volunteer at https://www.volunteerlv.org/opportunity/a0CVI00004K8bpk2AB/luminaria-volunteer.
Luminaria Night connects Lehigh Valley residents by lighting up neighborhoods during the holidays. The event is known by participants as the embodiment of the community coming together to help neighbors in their darkest hour. It began 28 years ago when three Bethlehem neighbors connected their homes with candlelight to symbolize unity and caring for underserved members of our community. In the early years of this tradition, several charities, including New Bethany, benefited as businesses and churches lit up their community during the holiday season. Luminaria has grown exponentially over the years and, in recent years, reached record-high participation. Luminaria Night accompanies other December holidays that all depict the imagery of light in different ways: Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, and Christmas.
One Luminaria Kit is a $15 donation and consists of ten white paper bags, ten votive candles, and ten cups of sand. Payment methods include checks, PayPal, Venmo, credit cards, and cash.
In case of inclement weather, a rain date has been scheduled for Dec. 20.
For more information on Luminaria Night 2025, visit newbethany.org/event/luminaria-night/.
