American Christmas Opens Mount Vernon Workshop To Public For 1st Time

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Mount Vernon's best kept secret isn't a secret any longer.

Did you know that the company that is in charge of the famous holiday displays in NYC, including Rockefeller Center, Macy's, Radio City Music Hall and the Cartier building, is right here in the Hudson Valley?

American Christmas, the company that decorates those iconic buildings and many more, has opened the doors to their warehouse at 30 Warren Place in Mt. Vernon to the public for the very first time. One hundred percent of ticket sales will be donated to support three area nonprofit organizations, including The Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club, the North East STEM Academy and the Youth Community Outreach Program of Mount Vernon.

"We live Christmas year-round, and we are thrilled to open our warehouse as a gift to the people who love Christmas as much as we do," American Christmas CEO, Dan Casterella, an employee of the company for over 20 years, said. "We are successful because of the resources here in our community — and we want to create an unforgettable experience for them and give back this holiday season. We are happy to be donating proceeds from ticket sales to several local organizations who do so much to support our youth and families."

American Christmas officially opened its doors to visitors on Friday. Members of the three nonprofit organizations and elected officials, including Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, were there for the opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting.

As you might expect, the biggest of Santa's workshops south of the North Pole is a hub of activity right now, as the craftsmen are hard at work on holiday displays, big and enormous, destined not just for NYC, but also for Mexico, Poland and South America. Casterella said that the workshop is buzzing close to 20 hours a day as Thanksgiving and the official start of the Christmas season fast approach.

The Mount Vernon warehouse has 70 full-time employees but expands to over 400 during the holiday season.

Visitors to "The Christmas Experience" won't just get a glimpse behind the scenes where Christmas magic and childhood memories are created. The visit also includes a stroll through Santa’s Village, featuring larger-than-life displays and interactive Dickensian vignettes where families can take holiday photos. The tour features 50 animatronics and Christmas scenes that harken back to the halcyon days of storefront window displays.

The big guy isn't making appearances just yet, but children will soon be able to visit with Santa in the village on specific days which will be posted to the American Christmas website.

For those who love "a Christmas past," there will also be a pop-up outlet where one-of-a-kind vintage decorations will be available for purchase, including pieces used on television shows and in major department store displays in past years.

There are decades of Christmas memorials on display (and a few you can take home). American Christmas was founded by Marvin Schwam in 1968 as an offshoot of his business selling artificial plants and flowers. It was acquired by MK Illumination in 2017, making it the largest provider of festive lighting in the world.

The American Christmas workshop, Christmas Village and one-of-a-kind shops in Mount Vernon might not be the very center of the universe this holiday season, but it sure feels that way.

Tickets for the "Christmas Experience," which will be open from November 4 - December 23, are available online here.

Santa’s Village weekday hours are from 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., while weekend hours are from 9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. The vintage pop-up store will also be open through December 23, with weekday hours from 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., and weekend hours from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Prices are $10 per ticket for a 15-minute time slot during the week and $15 per ticket on weekends. Free parking is available in front of the building.

More Information on the Nonprofit Organizations Benefitting from Ticket Sales

• The Mount Vernon Boys and Girls Club has been providing a safe and nurturing environment for students before and after school since 1912. More than 1,400 children and teens each day engage in a wide variety of interactive activities and programs to help them improve their self-esteem, develop positive values and achieve their highest potential in academic success.
• The North East STEM Academy provides students with access and exposure to enriched STEM learning that can empower them with the desire, motivation and skills needed to pursue careers as doctors, scientists, technologists and engineers.
• The Youth Community Outreach Program (Y-COP) was founded in 1990 by Allen Ayers, a former detective of the Mount Vernon Police Department. The program introduces its youth to programs that emphasize, enhance and enrich their educational, recreational, community and cultural awareness.