“The LEGO^® Movie” star presents check to charity LA’s BEST

LEGOLAND^® California Resort is honored to announce actress Elizabeth Banks as this year’s guest of honor to light the world’s largest LEGO^® Christmas tree at the family theme park’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013.

Banks, a mother of two, stars in the upcoming “The LEGO^® Movie” being released on February 7, 2014, and currently stars as Effie Trinket in the hit movie, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”

The 30-foot tall Christmas tree is created out of more than 245,000 forest green DUPLO^® bricks and is adorned with more than 400 LEGO^® ornaments. More than 11,000 LED lights illuminate LEGOLAND California’s tree which towers over Fun Town in the 128-acre family theme park in Carlsbad.

At the ceremony, LEGOLAND California Resort is donating $10,000 on Banks’ behalf to LA’s BEST (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow) which provides a safe and supervised after school education, enrichment and recreation program for elementary school children ages 5 to 12 in the City of Los Angeles.

The tree lighting ceremony is part of LEGOLAND California’s coolest holiday celebration ever, Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights.  Beginning Nov. 29, Fun Town transforms into a magical, winter wonderland where families throw snowballs at LEGO themed targets and build snowmen using LEGO accessories.  New this year, children can enjoy their first snow-tubing experience gliding down 7-foot tall snow-covered tube runs! Park guests can also sing along with holiday entertainment including live music featuring LEGO Friends Live, Jingle Jammers, the Big Test Holiday show and the Holiday Character Dance Party. Holiday Snow Days concludes with San Diego’s biggest Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party on Dec. 31. All Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights activities are included in the price of LEGOLAND California admission.

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013
5:30 p.m. – Tree Lighting Ceremony begins

WHERE: LEGOLAND California – ceremony is held in Fun Town