A new twist on Christmas at Americana

It was a new take on Santa Thursday night at the Americana at Brand’s fourth annual tree lighting ceremony, with aerialist and acrobatic performances putting a modern stamp on classic characters like the Nutcracker and toy soldiers.

The “Cirque du Santa” event featured fireworks, music and the big man himself, Santa Claus, as the mega-outdoor mall heralded the holiday shopping season. The 100-foot-tall white fir was covered in 10,000 lights and 15,000 ornaments for the occasion.

--Jason Wells, Times Community News

Twitter: @JasonBretWells