loader from loading.io

American Christmas: Bringing Holiday Magic to Life 365 Days of the Year

The Debbie Nigro Show

Release Date: 11/07/2023

Behind the Magic of Drone Light Shows: With Pixis Drones’ Pres. Bernard Ozarowski show art Behind the Magic of Drone Light Shows: With Pixis Drones’ Pres. Bernard Ozarowski

The Debbie Nigro Show

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen a dazzling display of synchronized drones creating art in mid-air? I stumbled upon this awe-inspiring technology while walking in my neighborhood park. What I thought was going to be an epic video of hovering drones ton my iPhone turned out to be a great shot… of my foot. But that didn’t stop me from diving into the world of drone light shows, thanks to my recent guest, Bernard Ozarowski, President of Pixis Drones. Bernard’s journey into the drone world is as fascinating as the shows themselves. “I was a white-collar criminal defense...

info_outline
Step Right Up! A Story of Circus Legends, Resilience, and Six Minutes of Perfection show art Step Right Up! A Story of Circus Legends, Resilience, and Six Minutes of Perfection

The Debbie Nigro Show

Ever find yourself enchanted by the sparkle of a circus? Not just the outfits (which I’ve always admired)—but the incredible dedication behind the scenes? Well, today’s podcast is a must-listen as I delve into the fascinating world of the Circus Ring of Fame in Sarasota, Florida, with my brilliant guest, Bill Powell. Funny story: this whole conversation started because I stumbled upon an old photo of myself doing one of my first celebrity interviews—with a monkey from the Royal Hanneford Circus! (Yes, a monkey. It was as hilarious as you can imagine.) That quirky blast from the past...

info_outline
Amazon E-Commerce Secrets with Neil Twa: How to Make Passive Income Online show art Amazon E-Commerce Secrets with Neil Twa: How to Make Passive Income Online

The Debbie Nigro Show

Ever dreamed of making passive income online while you sleep? Might be time to turn that dream into reality!  Recently on The Debbie Nigro Show, I had the pleasure of chatting with Neil Twa, a leading expert in Amazon e-commerce and the brains behind countless online business success stories. With over 45,000+ people soaking up his wisdom, Neil knows exactly how to help entrepreneurs navigate the fast-paced world of e-commerce.  We talked about how to succeed on Amazon, including insider strategies and how the platform is evolving to compete with TikTok Shop, Shein, and Temu. If...

info_outline
Unlike 'Billions' Brian Rathjen's Veteran Run Wall Street Firm 'Gives' vs 'Takes' show art Unlike 'Billions' Brian Rathjen's Veteran Run Wall Street Firm 'Gives' vs 'Takes'

The Debbie Nigro Show

 Celebrating True Heroes: Brian Rathjen & Roberts and Ryan's Mission to Serve Veterans  In honor of Veterans Day, I turned the spotlight on someone who embodies selfless service: Brian Rathjen of Roberts and Ryan, America’s first service-disabled veteran-owned broker-dealer. If there was a show about this Wall Street firm, it would be the opposite of the show “Billions”—highlighting generosity and patriotism instead of greed. Brian, a proud Navy veteran and the non-executive chairman of Roberts and Ryan, has made it his mission to give back. His firm has grown...

info_outline
Meet Destiny Bella Kinsey: The 10-Year-Old Filmmaker Making Waves Against Bullying! show art Meet Destiny Bella Kinsey: The 10-Year-Old Filmmaker Making Waves Against Bullying!

The Debbie Nigro Show

Recently on The Debbie Nigro Show, we had a very special young guest: the fabulous Destiny Bella Kinsey, a talented 10-year-old from Yonkers, NY who is making a powerful impact with her anti-bullying video, “Rise and Stop Bullies”. Destiny may be one of the youngest stars we’ve ever featured, but her story and vision are as impactful as they come!  Bullied herself in elementary school, Destiny took a difficult experience and turned it into a message of strength and hope for others. While no one was there to help her at first, once she was able to admit to her Mom what was troubling...

info_outline
What To Do When Your 'Birds of a Feather' Crew Have Different Political Views show art What To Do When Your 'Birds of a Feather' Crew Have Different Political Views

The Debbie Nigro Show

It’s Election Day, and wow, are emotions running high! If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably noticed that even the closest "birds of a feather" don’t always see eye-to-eye when it comes to politics.  Today on The Debbie Nigro Show, I shared some thoughts on how to keep the peace with friends and family who might be voting differently. From tips on having respectful conversations to a reminder that it’s our differences that make life interesting, I talked about ways to stay connected—even if you’re not all on the same political page. As I always say, “nothing new for...

info_outline
Is TGI Fridays Running Out of Fridays? The Scoop on Their Surprising Chapter 11 Filing show art Is TGI Fridays Running Out of Fridays? The Scoop on Their Surprising Chapter 11 Filing

The Debbie Nigro Show

With its roots as one of the first singles bars in Manhattan, TGI Fridays was the place to be back in the day, known for training Tom Cruise for his bartending role in Cocktail and introducing the world to Happy Hour! Now TGI Fridays, the once-vibrant go to restaurant chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. I did notice that a few of my local TGI Fridays had gone missing and knew something was up, but not all of them. Sure hard to miss that iconic logo in a drive by. And sure hard to forget how much good commotion went on at those happy hours back in the day. If you don't know the whole...

info_outline
Help! I’m Drowning in Photos: How Visual Story Media Rescues Your Memories (and Sanity) show art Help! I’m Drowning in Photos: How Visual Story Media Rescues Your Memories (and Sanity)

The Debbie Nigro Show

Is your life cluttered with mountains of family photos, both digital and physical, that you've been meaning to organize but can’t find the time or know where to start?  Meet Kimberly Melton, founder of Visual Story Media and a rising star in the world of photo organizing. Recently featured on The Debbie Nigro Show, Kimberly shared her passion for helping people bring order to their chaotic photo collections.   Who Is Kimberly Melton? Kimberly, based in Charlotte, NC, has a background in marketing and project management. In 2020, she discovered the art of photo management and...

info_outline
Breast Surgical Oncologist Invents BAT Shield Radiation Protection Specifically For Women in Healthcare show art Breast Surgical Oncologist Invents BAT Shield Radiation Protection Specifically For Women in Healthcare

The Debbie Nigro Show

In 2022, Dr. Lauren Ramsey, a Texas-based breast surgical oncologist, lost a close friend and fellow surgeon to breast cancer. This tragic loss spurred her mission to protect women healthcare workers who face unique occupational risks. Recognizing that women orthopedic surgeons are nearly three times more likely to develop breast cancer than the general population, Dr. Ramsey innovated the BAT shield—a T-shirt-style radiation protection garment designed specifically for women in healthcare. Unlike traditional protective aprons, the BAT shield offers targeted protection for high-risk areas:...

info_outline
Adults Can Rewire Their Brain with a Manifestation Coloring Book show art Adults Can Rewire Their Brain with a Manifestation Coloring Book

The Debbie Nigro Show

Hey there, it’s Debbie Nigro! On a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I had fun chatting about something that's really taking off lately—'adult play’ and reconnecting with the joy we felt as kids.  More and more adults are leaning into activities that bring them back to that pure, playful state. And guess what? Coloring books are one of those trends making another big comeback. But this time in a more personalized way. My guest, Madison Malloy, really gets this. Madison is a mindset coach, bestselling author, and the host of the podcast Next to Madison. She’s put together a...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

We’re already into Christmas? Didn’t I just take off my Halloween Costume? 

If like me, you’ve been feeling that the holiday season has been arriving earlier and earlier each year, it’s not your imagination. It has in fact been speeding up, because the businesses and destinations that invest in holiday displays invest a lot, says Dan Casterella, the Chief Executive Officer of American Christmas, and they want to capitalize on their investments.

American Christmas is the company behind the scenes creating the breathtaking holiday displays in 6 states including the iconic locations in NYC, like Saks Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Macy's, and Radio City Music Hall.

I invited CEO Dan Casterella to stop by my radio show for a warm chat to give us all a peek behind the curtains in the world of American Christmas.

 

The Business of Christmas:

Located in Mount Vernon, New York, (my hometown) American Christmas is the company responsible for decorating some of the most famous holiday locations in the United States. But they're not just about tinsel and lights; they create immersive holiday experiences that enchant visitors and spread festive cheer. The feel-good power they have created there is undeniable. Anyone of any age who could use a lift should stop by.

 

From School to Christmas Wonderland:

Chief Executive Officer, Dan Castarella, has been part of this magical world for over two decades. His journey into the Christmas business began when he started decorating homes in high school and, after a short stint in college, decided to leave college and join American Christmas. His parents were honestly not thrilled with his choice, but his passion and talent for bringing the holiday spirit to life have paid off. (And now they get free Christmas Decorations) 

 

Creating the Magic:

American Christmas isn't just about decking the halls; it's a year-round operation. With a 15-month planning cycle for some clients, and two weeks for others depending on the type and scale of the job, the process is both meticulous and expansive. It takes hundreds of employees working across multiple states, including New York, Texas, California, Florida, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., to make these holiday displays a reality. The end goal is to help clients create a holiday brand identity and gift a spectacular experience to their communities.

Dan said, “For us, it’s Christmas 365. The day our takedown season is done, we start again refurbishing for the following year. Everyone thinks we see Santa Claus all year long, and it's anything but that. It’s mostly spreadsheets and a lot of marketing conversations.”

 

Bringing the Holiday To You:

For the second year in a row, American Christmas is offering the public a chance to experience their holiday magic with an event called "Holiday Lane." Located at 30 Warren Place in Mount Vernon, it's an immersive holiday experience that allows visitors to walk through a magical Christmas experience, pick up festive decorations, and even meet Santa Claus. It's open Wednesday to Sunday, making it accessible for families and anyone in need of a dose of holiday spirit. Santa will be there every Wednesday and Friday night at Holiday Lane from 6 to roughly 8pm.

Dan says, “We have a showroom for our commercial clients that’s about 4,000 square feet  and we open that up to the general public. You can buy tickets online to come and experience what we do at American Christmas. The tickets are inexpensive, because we’re trying to be family friendly and we’re donating 100% of the proceeds to three nonprofit charities in Mount Vernon, New York. The Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club, Northeast STEM Starter Academy of Mt. Vernon, and Youth Community Outreach Program of Mount Vernon.

 

Year-Round Christmas:

The holiday season lasts for just a few weeks, but the work at American Christmas is a year-round endeavor. Planning, designing, and building take months, ensuring that the magic happens on time. Then it all boils down to a very hectic nine-week season when everything comes to life. 

 

Color Trends and Decorating Styles:

Each year, American Christmas helps its clients embrace various color themes and decorating styles. This year pink has been a popular choice, inspired by the Barbie. Trend.  But natural woodlands themes, traditional reds, and golds, and even New Orleans-style Mardi Gras displays have their place in the holiday lineup. Their Christmas store on premise is just fabulous and you’ll wish you knew about it sooner if you didn’t know about it already .

 

There’s Some New Christmas Technology: 

“The new thing”, says Dan, “is RGB technology where we can control the lights and build a show around the Christmas Lights. It’s not that popular in New York because New Yorkers like to keep Christmas traditional with ribbons, bows, and ornaments but it’s popular for us around the country. This year for example we have a 50-foot tree at the Tanger Outlet in Tennessee that’s an RGB show with programmable alights and we run a three-minute loop with a show on the tree.”

 

Holding the Holiday Line:

American Christmas does end for most of their clients by January 15th when the company finalizes their ‘take down’ portion of process for all the decorations they’ve put up. However, we all have seen some outdoor trees stay wrapped with white lights throughout the winter, bringing much needed warmth and joy to the dark months which is fine by me.

 

A Business That Spreads Joy:

The holiday season may start earlier each year, but the goal is to spread joy and create memorable experiences. Something we could all use a little more of these days for sure. The work of American Christmas brings a touch of magic to all of our lives.

American Christmas is more than just a company; it's a team of dedicated professionals who spend all year working to make the holiday season unforgettable. From design to installation and takedown, their business keeps the magic of Christmas alive year after year.

If you find yourself in Mount Vernon, N.Y., don't miss the chance to visit Holiday Lane and experience the enchantment for yourself.

 

I hope you enjoy this podcast of my live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show with Dan Casterella, the Chief Executive Officer of American Christmas. It's uplifting!