Turn on the fake snow machines - it’s time for Christmas! About 4,000 people attended the 27th annual South Coast Plaza tree lighting ceremony tonight in Costa Mesa.

Click HERE for a photo slideshow.

About 75 students from the Orange County High School of the Arts played music, danced, sang and acted as Santa Claus arrived to welcome the holiday season.

Characters included tap-dancing reindeer, a relatively skinny Frosty the Snowman and a cadre of energetic singer-dancers in multi-colored scarves and hats who resembled a Gap ad (in a good way).

“It’s just a great way to start the season, especially since we don’t get snow,” said Gretchen Ritter, of Lake Forest, who works for the Segerstrom family, the owners of South Coast Plaza. “It makes you feel like the holidays are here.”

Attendees each received a Santa hat with this year’s South Coast Plaza Christmas pin and a goody bag with a coupon booklet, candy cane and printed lyrics to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” (The promotional offers - which includes 20 percent off at Ann Taylor and 20 percent off at Fossil - will continue to be available at concierge locations.)

Hot cider and cookies were handed out, too.

Per tradition, children of the Segerstrom family turned on the 20,000 colored lights wrapped around the 96-foot-tall Christmas tree.

Just before the start of the show, the Segerstroms hosted a VIP dinner at the Westin South Coast Plaza for their employees and tenants. And that’s where I briefly met Henry Segerstrom, the patriarch of the family, and his wife, Elizabeth.

He shared that he came up with the idea of the tree lighting after a trip to New York.

The tradition is also important for members of the Vandal and Mugica families, who have been coming for 25 years. The group of 12 waited patiently as the crowd dispersed so they could take a Christmas photo with the tree.

The holiday season continues at 10 a.m. Friday when Santa Claus begins visits with children at South Coast Plaza.

Photo by Christina House, For the Register

More from the South Coast Plaza blog:

• And the winner of the contest is …
• Mall, department stores extend hours for holidays
• ‘Real Housewife’ parties at SoCa St. John
• Limited-edition Gucci line to benefit UNICEF
• Restaurant review: Nordstrom Cafe

For more on South Coast Plaza, see list of links on right-hand side of this blog.

Posted in: Uncategorized • Deals • Events • Holiday season • Slideshows |

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