Alabama Kid Wins Kevin McCallister Lookalike Contest, Heads to Plaza Hotel for Home Alone Adventure

In a scene that feels straight out of a holiday movie, 6‑year‑old Landon Collins from Alabama has just won a Kevin McCallister look‑alike contest that will send him to New York’s iconic Plaza Hotel. The finals took place Sunday morning at the hotel, a venue where scenes from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York were filmed.

The Contest and Its Prize

The winner receives an overnight stay at the Plaza and a full “Home Alone: Fun in New York” package. The package includes a limousine ride around the city, which Collins said is the part he is looking forward to most. “Cause you have a cheese pizza,” he said, “and it’s big.”

The Plaza will also serve Kevin’s famous bedside 16‑scoop ice‑cream sundae. Collins answered, “Sixteen,” when asked how many scoops he could have. He is not alone; his sister Lily and younger brothers Leo and Lewis will also be making the trip and sharing the dessert. Olivia Lindsey, the mother, laughed and said, “We’ll dish it out on them, too.”

How Landon Got the Hat

Collins wore Kevin’s full outfit, complete with coat, khaki pants, backpack, and a beanie from Qiviuk Boutique. The hat, a handcrafted knitwear replica of the Winter Bandits’ hat, was part of the contest’s collaboration with digital creator New York Mickey. The boutique announced the contest in late November, inviting contestants 12 and under to submit photos via e‑mail or try on a hat in person.

Fernando Alvarez, president of Qiviuk Boutique, explained the motivation: “We’ve been handcrafting these beautiful hats for about a year and a half and we realized that the hat itself brings memories and experiences to kids.” He added, “The movies really [resonate] with holiday time, with family time. We thought to enhance the experience we should have a look‑alike contest because every kid in the bottom of their heart feels like Kevin: adventures, being able to fend for themselves, be in a big city.”

Olivia Lindsey described putting the costume together: “It was pretty easy with the face that he’s got.”

The Final Round

Five finalists were invited to New York on Sunday to compete in the final round at the Plaza. They were served hot chocolate and serenaded with Christmas carols by Hannah Adams, Benjamin Brooks, and Paulina Reyes—musical‑theatre students at Marymount Manhattan College. Each contestant received a complimentary Kevin hat and was asked to perform one of the character’s famous lines from the Home Alone movies.

Collins chose the classic, “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.” The runner‑up, Cole Tomanek, delivered, “You guys give up or you thirsty for more?” His family had brought a backdrop of the McCallister house from Massachusetts, and his sister Kyla was dressed as Harry of the Wet Bandits, complete with a crowbar, burnt head, and feather‑covered jacket.

Anderson Forman, 7, from Long Island, performed Kevin’s famous eyebrow raise after saying, “My family is in Florida and I’m in New York.” He also built a replica Talkboy recorder using Magna‑Tiles, Legos, and other accessories. “This was the hard part,” he said. “I found an old music player and you have to put something in it to make it play music. I used Magna‑Tiles and glued it here and then we spray‑painted the whole thing.”

How the Family Learned About the Contest

Collins and his family first heard about the contest when his grandmother Mimi visited New York in November. She was on her way to the airport when she heard about the contest on the radio. “She texted me and said, ‘Can we enter Landon?’ and I said, ‘Of course!’” Lindsey recalled. “He is a big ‘Home Alone’ fan, but our Mimi is just a bigger fan of New York in general.”

They submitted Landon’s photo and he was soon named one of the finalists. The family booked a flight to New York for a quick two‑night stay. Misty King, the grandmother, said, “There was never really a doubt that we were just gonna hurry up, get our plane tickets and be gone,” and that everything worked out perfectly.

First Trip to New York

“What did Collins think of his first trip to New York?” asked a reporter. He replied, “It’s very, very snowy.” He had arrived one day before the city’s first winter storm of the season, which dropped a coating of snow on the area. Lindsey reflected, “We feel very blessed,” calling his win a “Christmas miracle.” She added that the kids had mentioned how different it is from home multiple times.

Future Plans

Collins and his family will return to the Plaza in 2026 for an overnight stay. They will soon head back to sweet home Alabama, where the skies are so blue. Returning to New York in the new year, Collins will get his room, limo, pizza, and ice cream. When asked what he would do if Harry and Marv showed up, he said, “Set traps.”

Key Takeaways

• Landon Collins, a 6‑year‑old from Alabama, won a Kevin McCallister look‑alike contest and earned an overnight stay at the Plaza Hotel.
• The prize package includes a limousine tour, a large pizza, and a 16‑scoop ice‑cream sundae shared with his siblings.
• The contest was organized by Qiviuk Boutique in collaboration with New York Mickey, featuring contestants 12 and under.

The story of a young fan’s holiday adventure reminds us how movies can bring families together across the country, and how a simple hat can spark a dream trip to one of New York’s most iconic hotels.