Photo Gallery: South Coast Plaza’s 36th annual tree lighting

Santa Claus prepares to take the stage during the South Coast Plaza tree-lighting ceremony at Town Center Park in Costa Mesa on Thursday night.

Singers from the Orange County School of the Arts perform Christmas carols during the 36th annual South Coast Plaza tree-lighting ceremony in Costa Mesa on Thursday night.

Harp player Jillian Schlechter performs during South Coast Plaza’s tree-lighting ceremony at Town Center Park in Costa Mesa.

Visitors get a close look at South Coast Plaza’s newly lighted 96-foot white fir tree at Town Center Park in Costa Mesa on Thursday night.

A mother and her son gather with hundreds of other guests at the 36th annual South Coast Plaza tree-lighting ceremony on Thursday night at Town Center Park in Costa Mesa.

Singers from the Orange County School of the Arts perform during the South Coast Plaza tree-lighting ceremony at Town Center Park in Costa Mesa on Thursday night.

A dancer from the Orange County School of the Arts leaps onto the stage during the 36th annual South Coast Plaza tree-lighting ceremony on Thursday night at Town Center Park in Costa Mesa.

Orange County School of the Arts dancers dressed as reindeer and nutcrackers perform during South Coast Plaza’s tree-lighting ceremony at Town Center Park in Costa Mesa.