12 Year Old White Plains Girl Lights Up Westchester’s Winter Wonderland

Front Row:  Valerie Williams (mom); Brianna Gilzene (sister); Iyana Gilzene; Snowball the Elf, Back Row: Dwight Gilzene (dad); Robbie Dog;  Santa Claus;  Westchester Parks Foundation (WPF) Chairperson Seth Mandelbaum; Dr. Matthew Pinto Section Chief, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network;  Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins

Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza, returned to Kensico Dam Plaza on Friday, November 24th bigger and better than ever with thousands of more lights, a second light tunnel, and New Live Character Snowball the El

Westchester Parks Foundation welcomed a special child to help light the tree, twelve-year-old  Iyana Gilzene, from White Plains who received a kidney transplant in September at Westchester Medical Center Health Network Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. She is in 7th grade at Highland Middle School.

The festive celebration takes place six consecutive weeks through December 31, 2023. This year’s event will have extra early times slots available Monday-Thursdays starting at 5:30p.m. and on Saturday – Sundays starting at 4:00p.m.  *End times vary per night. Tickets are $35 per vehicle.

 Proceeds from this event benefit WPF and allow the organization to further its mission to advocate for and invest in the preservation, conservation, use and enjoyment of 50 parks, trails and open spaces within the Westchester County Parks system. When purchasing tickets, guests were able to donate additional fund to Westchester Parks Foundation to help expand its Camp Morty program for disenfranchised youth along with Westchester Medical Center Health Network Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.  For complete information and to purchase tickets, visit wwinterwonderland.com