IN BRIEF

-- Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- With the flip of a switch, 18,000 little white bulbs

will light up Fashion Island’s Christmas tree Friday.

Santa Claus will narrate the event, which is titled “A Magical Century of

Christmas.” The festivities will feature singing and dancing by the

acclaimed Orange County High School of the Arts.

Decorating the tree was no easy task. A crew of 10 people took one week

to put thousands of colorful ornaments on the nation’s tallest Christmas

tree.

Friday’s festivities will begin at 6 p.m. at Bloomingdale’s Courtyard.

The tree-lighting takes place at 6:25 p.m.

A menorah-lighting ceremony for the community will take place Dec. 3 at 4

p.m.