The following content is created in consultation with Fashion Valley, San Diego's finest collection of stores in a beautiful outdoor shopping center that also features an 18-screen movie theater. It does not reflect the work or opinions of NBC San Diego's editorial staff. To learn more about Fashion Valley, click here.
Tis the season to experience holiday magic, and Fashion Valley has plenty of festive cheer to go around.
To welcome the season of Santa, gifts and gratitude, Fashion Valley is hosting its annual Holiday Kick-off Tree-Lighting Event on November 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Elevator Court, near the Prada store.
The kick-off event, which is slated to be emceed by San Diego 6 anchor Heather Myers, will include a festive show by the Salvation Army brass band as they perform popular holiday carols. After the band serenades the crowd with joyful tunes, a local San Diego family will join Santa on stage to help light Fashion Valley’s glittering tree.
Throughout the event, guests are invited to help children in need by visiting Salvation Army's Gingerbread House located next to Santa's unique holiday home. Hosted by The Salvation Army’s Santa’s Little Helpers, the Gingerbread House will be decorated with tags displaying a child's name, age and gift wish. Guests are encouraged to take a tag and return with a gift, or an American Express® Simon Giftcard®, for the child that they selected.
And what would a holiday celebration be without gifts? The first 200 revelers in line to make the nice list will receive Fashion Valley swag bags filled with retailer gifts and a holiday-themed book for little ones.
After Santa finishes mingling and jingling with everyone on the nice list, he will take his place in his winter wonderland in Center Court, where he will pose for photos and listen to holiday wishes through Christmas Eve. Santa will even pose with furry family members on November 24 and December 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on special Santa Pet Photo Nights.
Families and visitors can get into the holiday spirit by posing with a 20-foot Christmas tree, featuring strands of twinkling lights and festive ornaments in a variety of colors and shapes.
To add to the holiday memories, seasonal entertainment from local organizations and groups will be available on select days throughout December. Fashion Valley will also surprise and delight loyal shoppers who have made the center their retail destination of choice. Fashion Valley’s mall management “elves” will greet and reward shoppers who have been on their best behavior this year with surprise treats and goodies throughout the holiday season.
Fashion Valley’s Holiday Kick-Off Tree Lighting Event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call (619) 297-3381 or visit Simon.com/mall/fashion-valley.
Keep up-to-date on the seasonal fun available at Fashion Valley by visiting the center’s Facebook page and capture your holiday memories on Twitter or Instagram by hashtagging your Tweets and photos with #FashionValleyHoliday.
