Mount Vernon's American Christmas, famous for NYC lights, opens 2nd Holiday Lane to public

MOUNT VERNON- With over 100,000 dazzling lights and more than 100 animatronics and figurines, Holiday Lane at American Christmas returns this year as a bigger and brighter holiday extravaganza.

The Holiday Lane opens on Nov. 1.

This is the second year the Mount Vernon company, which has provided iconic lighting throughout New York City for decades, opens the doors of its showroom to the public. For this holiday season, it is doubling the size of last year’s venue by adding seven themed rooms and offering an opportunity to tour famed holiday displays from New York City with people who created them.

Strolling along the Holiday Lane, visitors will immerse themselves in nine Christmas themed displays, including a wish to the North Pole, an Arctic cave, elves’ quarters and Santa’s take off.

Visitors can write down their wishes to Santa, hang out by Santa’s sleigh, and shop in an expanded Christmas store stocked with 4,000 items, ranging from hard-to-find Christopher Radko ornaments to tabletop trees, nutcrackers, holiday balls, garland, and more.

Those who are lucky may win a tour of New York City's iconic spots — Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall — with people who designed those lightings and displays.

More: Find a little Christmas magic in Mount Vernon: New walk-thru opens Nov. 4

The Holiday Lane, at 30 Warren Place, is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Santa visits on Wednesdays and Fridays from Nov. 8 through Dec. 22. Tickets are $15 for ages 13 and up on Wednesdays and Thursdays, $25 for Fridays through Sundays.

Street parking in front of the building will be limited to one-hour starting Nov. 1.

Making the experience more meaningful is that all ticket sales will go to three Mount Vernon nonprofits: The Mount Vernon Boys and Girls Clubs, North East STEM Academy, and The Youth Community Outreach Program.

Dan Casterella, chief executive officer of American Christmas and the creative mind behind The Holiday Lane, said the goal is to raise more money for the nonprofits.

“I want to have a philanthropy aspect that ties to our business and the community, but I couldn’t find anything that makes sense for us. And then we got this," Casterella said. "It fits perfectly with our brand and image.”

He said the company donated $81,213 last year. The donations helped 60 students to attend a STEM camp this past summer, according to a press release.

“The funding provided by American Christmas makes a tangible, long-term difference in the lives of the students attending public schools in Mount Vernon, and we are honored to be included in those organizations they support,” Gerald Dennis, founder of North East STEM Academy, said in the release.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: American Christmas light displays open to public in mount vernon ny