Fashion Island installs tree

The Fashion Island Christmas tree has a new home this year — and new dimensions. It’s about three times smaller than last year’s yuletide tree that went up at the outdoor shopping center in Newport Beach.

Fashion Island customarily lays claim to one of the largest Christmas trees in the nation, but construction at its usual home has caused downsizing, shopping center representatives said.

This year’s white fir is about 40 feet tall, Fashion Island spokeswoman Laura Davis said, compared to last year’s 115-foot tower of foliage.

“The scale of the tree is appropriate for its location now,” Davis said.

When the tree went up Thursday morning with almost no fanfare, the title of tallest Christmas tree in Newport-Mesa went to South Coast Plaza’s 96-foot white fir.

The Fashion Island tree was installed in its new home on the center’s Atrium Lawn, due to construction of its usual location in the courtyard in front of Bloomingdale’s.

This year’s tree is beside the center’s Skydivers statue, Santa’s holiday home and an accompanying forested mini Alpine village. The Atrium Lawn fronts the Atrium Court, Fashion Island’s multilevel indoor shopping plaza and food court.

The tree arrived Thursday morning after an estimated 680-mile voyage from the Sierra Nevada mountains. It was supplied by Victor’s Custom Christmas Trees, who has furnished Fashion Island’s Christmas trees for many years. Victor’s says its trees are eco-friendly because it replants 12 trees for every tree it cuts.

The tree will be decorated over the coming weeks in traditional Fashion Island fashion, with 4,000 to 5,000 ornaments and lights in a red, gold and silver color scheme with white lights, Davis said.

Tree-lighting ceremonies are scheduled for Nov. 20 and 21.

The tree that dwarfs it at South Coast Plaza will be decorated with an estimated 20,000 baubles and lights.

Fashion Island plans to restore next year’s tree to its usual home when construction of the new courtyard area is finished, Davis said.

If You Go

What: Fashion Island tree-lighting ceremony with Santa photos, song and dance

When: 6 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21

Where: Atrium Lawn, Fashion Island, Newport Beach

Information: (949) 721-2000 or shopfashionisland.com