Most years, Littleton kicks off the holiday season in grand fashion on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

At the Candlelight Walk, throngs follow behind Santa Claus' sleigh as he rolls down Main Street, magically illuminating thousands of lights from Rio Grande to Rapp streets.

In 2020, the Candlelight Walk was canceled, as so many events have been. Though with luck coming weeks will bring steady business to downtown's merchants, Main Street was a lonely place the evening of Nov. 27.

But downtown still shined in her holiday glory, causing at least one pedestrian to remark within earshot of a reporter, “It's so cute! It's like a Hallmark movie!”

Beneath the twinkling lights along the main drag, a handful of diners huddled beneath patio heaters or around propane fireplaces at sidewalk and patio tables, the only sit-down dining allowed during a surge of COVID-19.

At the View House, Kristine Meares and Christopher Chartier sat beneath a buzzing heat lamp, sharing drinks and appetizers.

“It keeps your face warm, at least,” Chartier said of the heat lamp. “At least it's beautiful out here.”