South Coast Plaza welcomes in the holidays

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Avery Aguirre, 2, admires the snow at the event.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Gemma Hebson dances with her daughter Tess, 3, during the 35th annual Christmas tree lighting at South Coast Plaza’s Town Center Park on Thursday.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Ernie Hernandez and his niece Sofia Solis, 3, look at the LED lights on the Christmas tree.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Santa and Mrs. Claus make their way through the crowd to light the tree.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Savannah Ross, 6, sucks on a candy cane during the Christmas tree lighting at South Coast Plaza’s Town Center Park.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Santa and Mrs. Claus and students from OCSA, the Orange County School of the Arts, perform during the 35th annual Christmas tree lighting at South Coast Plaza’s Town Center Park on Thursday.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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The LED lights cast their spell.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Students from OCSA, the Orange County School of the Arts, perform at the lighting ceremony.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Students from OCSA perform.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

By Daily Pilot staff

Nov. 17, 2016 9:06 PM PT

South Coast Plaza flipped the switch on its holiday celebration Thursday night, lighting its 96-foot-tall white fir tree during the 35th annual ceremony at Town Center Park, across Bristol Street from the mall.

The tree, which arrived Oct. 11 from Mount Shasta and stands next to the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel, is adorned with 150,000 LED lights.

Thursday’s ceremony also featured a visit from Santa Claus, a holiday-themed performance from the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana and a synchronized light and music show.

Last year’s tree was destroyed by a fire Dec. 14 apparently caused by an electrical malfunction. It was replaced by light strands containing 8,000 bulbs in the shape of a tree.

The new tree is treated with fire retardant.

On Friday and Saturday, the Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach will take its tree-lighting turn, illuminating its 90-foot tree at the Neiman Marcus-Bloomingdale’s Courtyard. The festivities will start at 6 p.m. both days at 401 Newport Center Drive.