Thank you to everyone who attended our 31st Annual Holiday Dinner & Auction!

Please enjoy some photos from the event below.

Event Overview

Join Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites for an evening of exquisite dining, fabulous cocktails, and auctions featuring beautiful art, unique items, and much more.

Tickets

• When: Saturday, December 2, 2023
• Benefactors’ Reception: 5:30 p.m. • Guests: 6:30 p.m.
• Where: ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 18015

Robyn Bingham is the featured artist of the 2023 Holiday Dinner. Her painting, “Morning Sun at the Miller’s House,” will be the centerpiece of the event auction.

Art Preview Reception

Saturday, November 18, 2023
4 p.m to 6 p.m. at Luckenbach Mill, 459 Old York Road, Bethlehem, PA 18018

Honorees

Individual Honoree: Odete Kelly

Odete Kelly is one of those remarkable individuals who seamlessly weaves themselves into the social fabric of any community, connecting and bringing people together for the greater good. Born and raised in Porto, Portugal, Odete’s life journey took an extraordinary turn when she met her husband, Peter Kelly, while working at Texas Instruments Portugal in Human Resources. Married for 41 years, their love story has taken them on a global adventure.

Odete is committed to preserving the town’s rich history, exemplified by her dedicated involvement with Historic Bethlehem which she has championed since 2001. Beyond her passion for community service, Odete is an avid knitter and craft enthusiast, celebrated for her creative touch in décor and crafts. Her skills have found a meaningful outlet in volunteering for Historic Bethlehem, where her artistic contributions have enhanced the HBMS Holiday Dinner & Auction on many occasions.

The Kellys’ dedication to Bethlehem shines brightly in their extensive art collection, acquired through the Auction Dinner. Their home transformed into a gallery of Pennsylvania scenes during the opening dinner party for the Rooms to View House and Garden Tour in 2019. They also participated in the Garden Tour in 2008, and avidly endorsed Historic Moravian Bethlehem’s UNESCO World Heritage nomination.

Odete is a shining exapmle of the positive impact one person can have on the world when driven by a genuine desire to give back.

Featured Artist: Robyn Bingham

Although she grew up in Montana, Robyn Bingham has called the Bethlehem area home for the last 20 years. She has always been creative, but ten years ago she hit a low point. Being a religious person, she opened the Bible for guidance. After a quick glance at the chapter that she opened to, her eyes were directed immediately to the footnotes which read “Art. Healing.” Then, quite shockingly, a childhood longing to learn to paint portraits in oils began to emerge that had been buried deep within her soul.

God’s message was exciting and propelled her forward. Since then she has embarked on an extremely intensive study and practice of oil painting while finding personal healing and growth along the way. Her mission is to articulate the light and the effects that light and color have on the world in her paintings. She hopes people will look for light, and that as they immerse themselves in her work, they will feel a sense of the same peace and joy that she does. For more information visit robynbingham.com.

Business Honoree: Lehigh Valley Style

Lehigh Valley Style is a monthly lifestyle magazine, and their goal is to connect and celebrate the community in every issue.

Lehigh Valley Style support HBMS because “they are an inaugural part of the community and the rich history of Bethlehem.” These historic sites bring to the Lehigh Valley a sense of place that the community has come to love and enjoy. “These Historic sites bring so much to the Lehigh Valley,” and their magazine demonstrates just that.

Lehigh Valley Style is proud to partner with HBMS in so many ways, and they are very humbled to be recognized as an honoree. “It’s been our pleasure to work with LoriAnn and this entire organization for over 20 years.”

Live Auction Items

Committee

Chair: Gail Shook
Art Committee Chair: Elena Shackleton
Committee Members: Santa Bannon, Johanna Chehi, Dolly Dyer, Andrea Foucek, Connie Gilbert, Karen Hampton, Jami Howser, Diane Hutchinson, Suzanne Mason, Tanya Mohan, Dawn Resch, Judy Savchak, Jennifer Van De Voorde, & Ilene Wood.

Event Locations

Auction Preview

Auction and Dinner

Event Organizer

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