PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It’s hot outside, but Chestnut Hill is gearing up for the cold.
This weekend, you can get some of your favorite winter food specials along Germantown Avenue kicks for Christmas in July. Philip Dawson, executive director of the Chestnut Hill Business District, said local restaurants and shops will be featuring some holiday favorites.
“For example, Bredenbeck’s, which is one of those classic Philadelphia bakeries founded in 1889, is going to have their full gingerbread display out in the front window and they’re gonna be doing take-home cookie decorating kits, where you can do ugly sweater cookies.
“And McNally’s, which is another Chestnut Hill institution that has been here since 1921, is going to do their classic Dickens sandwich, which is going to have roast turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing.”
There will also be Christmas and winter-themed holiday demonstrations.
“Our chocolate store Made By Me in Market at the Fareway, it’s going to be doing their homemade peppermint bark. You can come and see how that’s made,” he added.
Dawson said while people are beginning to spend money again at local businesses, the coronavirus economy was difficult.
“A lot of our restaurants are still dealing with the economic fallout.”
This weekend is a way to help them and encourage people to start their holiday shopping — and holiday eating — early.
“The holiday season in 2020 wasn’t a typical one for anyone. Not for small businesses, and certainly not the shoppers.”
As for Christmas in July, Dawson promised: “Come hungry and you won’t be disappointed.”
For more on Chestnut Hill’s Christmas in July, listen to the KYW Newsradio original podcast What’s Cooking on the Audacy app.