Big family dinners, holiday festivals, beloved local traditions like the Macy’s light show—all of these are going to look quite different this year. But even if your focus is on safety, that doesn’t mean you can’t still find ways to enjoy the sights, sounds and spirit of the holiday season without traveling far from your Royal Athena apartment.

One such way to do that is at nearby Chestnut Hill’s Stag & Doe Nights. Every Wednesday in December, the quaint neighborhood hosts a night of shopping specials, extended store hours and other holiday activities. The event series is one of Chestnut Hill’s most beloved holiday traditions and, while some worried it may not go on this year, organizers are taking steps to protect visitors, including mask rules and social distancing recommendations.

If you’ve never been to Chestnut Hill at the holidays, just a stroll down Germantown Avenue is well worth the trip, even though it’s only 15 minutes from your Royal Athena apartment. The dozens of shops along the avenue have all gotten into the spirit of the season with lights and window displays. During Stag & Doe Nights, a brass quartet will play holiday tunes, and visitors can cozy up and take in the sights on a horse-drawn carriage ride. Santa will even be stopping by each night for socially distanced visits.

Chestnut Hill provides plenty of opportunities to get your holiday shopping done. From art galleries to gift shops to clothing boutiques, the neighborhood will help you check even the hardest person to shop for off your list. And while you shop, you can sip and snack on treats from all the eateries: coffee and tea shops, bakeries and much more.

So don your ugly Christmas sweater and head out to Chestnut Hill to enjoy this unique but memorable holiday season!