"Now, with downtown life back in full swing and our city's businesses no longer needing this outlet, event organizers are evolving the program to fit the moment." That line comes from the Greater Easton Development Partnership's September announcement. It explains nearly everything about how the 2026 Easton Winter Village will look when it opens on November 27.
The dates haven't changed much. The free admission and the Peace Candle haven't changed either. What has changed is the layout. The village runs November 27 through December 20 with no admission charge, but this year Centre Square holds a smaller share of the event, and more of it is spread across downtown.
From 38 Huts to About a Dozen
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. told lehighvalleylive.com that the hut count will fall from about 40 to 12 this year. Earlier seasons explain the size of that drop. In 2022, the third annual village opened with 38 vendor huts and a synthetic skating rink in Centre Square. Last year's coverage counted more than 30 vendor huts plus 12 pop-up vendors, and no rink.
The village was never meant to be permanent. The Greater Easton Development Partnership started it in 2020 so shoppers could buy from local businesses outdoors while social distancing kept people out of stores. That reason is gone, and so is some of the money. John Kingsley, the city's Director of Community and Economic Development, said the village no longer gets federal COVID relief funds and sponsorship revenue is down. He described the changes as a response to those funding challenges and a way to move holiday shopping out of the square and into downtown businesses.
The vendor terms show the same shift. Renting a hut used to cost $500 for all four weekends. This year it costs $500 for one weekend. Downtown Easton businesses get 25% off that fee, and approved fine-art vendors get their huts free. Some longtime vendors told lehighvalleylive.com they wish they had been consulted first. Kingsley said the lack of communication was regrettable and that the changes were necessary and carefully considered.
Where the Rest of the Village Went
The huts that stay in Centre Square form a smaller "inner ring," and it includes a new artist market. The partnership moved a limited number of food and drink huts to what it calls the Winter Garden.
The Winter Garden is in the parking lot on South Third Street between Belleville Market and Mesa Modern Mexican. The official site calls it an outdoor lounge with vendors, football tailgates, Sunday movie matinees and fire pits. The partnership's release adds college and pro football tailgates and live music. Food and drink sellers get priority for Garden spots, and the vendors rotate weekly. No vendor names or Garden-only hours have been published yet.
Beyond those two hubs, the partnership plans more holiday lighting and décor across downtown for photo stops, plus North Pole-themed signs to guide people from block to block. Julie VanOsdol, manager of the Easton Main Street Initiative, summed up the goal: "Rather than concentrating the holiday experience in one location, we're creating a district-wide celebration that encourages visitors to explore more of downtown, discover our awesome local businesses and enjoy holiday programming throughout the city."
The organizers point to more than 30 downtown shops, boutiques and galleries, along with dozens of restaurants, as the other half of the village. City Councilwoman Crystal Rose, who sits on the partnership's board, said she has committed to doing all her holiday shopping in Easton again this year.
The Trolley Route Doubles as the Map
A Holiday Trolley will run during set hours to connect the spread-out pieces. The village's trolley page lists five stops:
- Crayola Quad in Centre Square
- Northampton Street at Larry Holmes Drive
- Spring Garden Courts, at North Third and Spring Garden streets
- Fourth Street Garage, near the police department
- The State Theatre, on Northampton Street before Fifth Street
The same page lists trolley hours of 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays (3 to 8 p.m. on Black Friday), 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The page has no year on it, it doesn't list a fare, and it doesn't say what order the stops run in. Confirm before you build an afternoon around it. Even so, the stops show the area organizers want covered. It runs from the river end of Northampton Street up to the State Theatre and north to Spring Garden Street, with a garage stop where visitors from out of town are likely to park.
Each Weekend Has a Different Lineup
The rule that will change your visits most has nothing to do with the hut count. Vendors may rent a hut for only two of the four weekends, not all four as in past years. The partnership says it is rotating artists, makers and specialty merchants so visitors find new vendors every weekend. If you see a gift you like on opening weekend, it may be gone by the weekend you come back for it.
The overall village hours are 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays (2 to 8 p.m. on Black Friday), noon to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Here is what has been published so far for each weekend:
| Weekend | What's on the calendar |
|---|---|
| Nov. 27 to 29 | Opening. Black Friday hours start at 2 p.m. Small Business Saturday at Bank Street Annex. |
| Dec. 4 to 6 | Easton Public Market holiday pop-ups begin Dec. 5. |
| Dec. 11 to 13 | New rotation of hut and Winter Garden vendors. Pop-ups continue. |
| Dec. 18 to 20 | Finale weekend. Village closes Sunday, Dec. 20, at 5 p.m. |
The partnership says more themed weekend activities will be announced. The official music and activities page still reads "Coming Soon."
Opening weekend needs one date check. The partnership's release calls Small Business Saturday the centerpiece of the season and says it falls on the same day as Easton's 75th annual Peace Candle Lighting. The release lists that date as November 27, which is a Friday. The village's vendor page lists the Small Business Saturday market at Bank Street Annex on November 28. Plan on the 75th lighting happening sometime that weekend, and check the final time before you head downtown.
Bank Street Annex Hosts Two Events This Season
The same building plays a part in two downtown events this season. PA Bacon Fest returns for its 15th anniversary on November 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Its biggest announced change is a "reimagined" Piggy Bank VIP Lounge inside Bank Street Annex. It offers food and drink, raffle tickets, merchandise, football on screens, games, discounts and private bathrooms, with single-day and two-day passes. Three weeks later, Bank Street Annex hosts the Winter Village's Small Business Saturday market.
The Easton Public Market at 325 Northampton St. fills a similar role in December, when its holiday vendor pop-ups run from December 5 through December 20. Both put part of the holiday market indoors at downtown addresses, away from the square.
December 20, Spread Across Downtown
The last day of the season shows the new layout clearly. The Centre Square huts close at 5 p.m. that Sunday. A short walk up Northampton Street, the new Easton Speakeasy & Dining Room at 431 Northampton St. hosts Mimi's Drag Brunch Melodies at 11:30 a.m. The show is already sold out, with 40 seats. Co-owners Aaron Coleman and Tony Austin told The Morning Call that their ticketed events have formal dress codes. Catering partners include Porter's Pub, Aman's Artisan Indian Cuisine, Meli, Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti House, Stoke Coal Fire Pizza & Bar and Sette Luna. The earlier brunch dates, October 18 and November 15, are sold out too.
Up the street, Plants + Coffee at 1458 Northampton St. hopes to finish its expansion into the former Mystery Box Games space by year's end. The plan adds seating, a test kitchen and a bigger selection from Jojo's Book Nook. A holiday afternoon in Easton this year might start at a hut in the inner ring, continue at a fire pit on South Third Street, and end at a storefront several blocks from the Peace Candle.
Downtown events like this shape how a neighborhood feels to the people walking through it, and that matters when it's time to sell. If you own a home in Easton or anywhere in Northampton County and want to know how your block compares this season, the Daniel Witt Real Estate Group can help. Start with your free home valuation, and we'll walk you through what's moving near you.
