Fashion Island set to light Christmas tree

Fashion Island will usher in the holiday season with its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremonies at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Neiman Marcus-Bloomingdale’s courtyard.

A light show and snowfall provided by Disneyland Resort will bring Mickey Mouse and his friends to perform at the shopping center, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Visitors will be invited to sing along to carols as the tree is lighted during the 20-minute celebration.

Fashion Island expects 10,000 guests both evenings.

The 90-foot white fir, which arrived from Mount Shasta on Oct. 31, took three hours to hoist into place with a crane. More than 20,000 ornaments have been placed on the branches.

Meanwhile, seven miles away, South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is planning its 31st annual tree-lighting ceremony for 6 p.m. Nov. 20 at Town Center Park, across from the mall. It took three weeks to adorn the 96-foot white fir with 20,000 colored lights.

--Kathleen Luppi