![Even though there won't be a big tree lighting ceremony at Stan Hywet due to social distancing concerns, Executive Director Sean Joyce said the site has one of the biggest trees ever in the courtyard this year. [Kabir Bhatia / WKSU]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/60101f5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/980x551+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F11%2F939410545_1578449758_0.jpg)
The annual Stan Hywet Hall & Garden Christmas tour will still take place this year, but with some changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A lot was learned this past summer about hosting visitors safely, Executive Director Sean Joyce said.
"It's a little bit different feel this year; we're not doing the tree lighting – we have probably one of our biggest trees we've ever had in the courtyard," Joyce said. "So the tree is still here, lit up. And we're still selling gingerbread cookies, but with some limitations as far as just making sure people are spread out, wearing their masks.”
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be staggered entry for the historic main house and tickets must be purchased in advance.
“We're really trying to lay out the paths wide enough for folks to get around each other,” Joyce said. “There's plenty of space to spread out over 30 acres of lights, which you could take at your own leisure. Gingerbread Land is a little different, it's a straight shot through the middle, so you can just walk through. So we're trying to avoid a lot of lingering.”
The annual tour starts Nov. 27, and runs on select dates through Dec 30.
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