The 2012 attendance was the third-highest in the event's history, topped only by the 63,436 who attended in 2011 and the 65,000 who visited in 2007.

Christkindlmarkt also reached a major milestone in 2012 as it welcomed its one-millionth guest.

"The holiday season is one of the biggest and busiest times of the year for Bethlehem," said ArtsQuest President Jeff Parks. "The city's rich history, charm, unique shopping experiences and wide variety of holiday attractions make it one of the premier destinations in the region for enjoying the holidays. We saw that again at Christkindlmarkt this year, with guests coming from as far away as Massachusetts, Virginia and even the state of Washington."

During Peepsfest, an additional 5,000 people and 700-plus guests attended the city's New Year's Eve block party.

In addition, more than 800 children and adults came out for the new Three Kings Celebration at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks Jan. 6.

"Bethlehem's annual Christmas celebration has a positive impact that goes well beyond the holiday season," said Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. "Each year, countless visitors discover the many wonderful restaurants, museums and merchants that call the city home, then come back throughout the year to shop, dine and patronize many of the downtown businesses. There's a lot of work and planning that goes into preparing for the holidays in the Christmas City, but it pays huge dividends throughout the year for the city and the entire region."