Brooke Burke Helps Santa Light the World’s Largest LEGO® Christmas Tree at LEGOLAND® California

CARLSBAD, Calif. (Nov. 29, 2010) –  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at LEGOLAND® California where Brooke Burke from “Dancing with the Stars” and her family helped Santa light the world’s largest LEGO® Christmas tree tonight. As guests waited to see the 30-foot-tall tree illuminate, they enjoyed a performance by Jingle Bell Brass. LEGOLAND California Resort General Manager Peter Ronchetti also presented $10,000 to Operation Smile on behalf of Burke.

“Thanks to Brooke Burke and to LEGOLAND,” said Operation Smile Representative Robyn Mircoff. “This donation will provide surgeries for more than 41 children through our partner countries.”

The celebration tonight began as the Toy Soldier from the Park’s interactive holiday musical “Let it Snow” introduced Ronchetti, who spoke of a great 2010 and hinted at things to come in 2011: “2010 was an exciting year for LEGOLAND California as we introduced Clutch Powers to our guests with a 4-D movie and opened the world’s first  LEGO themed Water Park with great success!” Ronchetti continued, “I am so eager to tell you what we are bringing to LEGOLAND California for 2011 but promised to keep my lips shut until our January press conference so you’ll just have to come back and see us.”

Burke, her fiancé David Charvet and their 3-year-old daughter Rain and 2-year-old son Shaya spent the day enjoying LEGOLAND prior to the ceremony. “The holidays for us are all about giving back and spending time together as a family and here at LEGOLAND this was the perfect place to do that.” Burke is a successful host, actress and entrepreneur.  She just completed co-hosting ABC’s hit competition show, “Dancing With The Stars,” with Tom Bergeron, having earned the coveted mirror ball trophy as season seven’s champion with her professional dance partner, Derek Hough.  The mother of four (all between the ages of 2 and 10) is Co-CEO of the popular website ModernMom.com, President of BabooshBaby.com and she will add author to her resume when Penguin Books publishes her first book, “The Naked Mom,” in February 2011.

The world’s largest LEGO® Christmas tree is made of more than 245,000 forest green DUPLO® bricks, adorned with more than 240 LEGO ornaments and surrounded by packages and LEGO friends the whole family can enjoy. Tonight’s tree lighting ceremony marks the beginning of LEGOLAND California’s Holly Jolly Holidays presented by Western Dental which runs through Dec. 31, 2010. The entire theme park is transformed into a holiday wonderland featuring vibrant holiday decorations, festive entertainment every weekend including carolers and strolling musicians plus nightly fireworks Dec. 26 through 30. Children may pose with a five-foot-tall snowman made of more than 37,000 LEGO bricks or with a life-size LEGO Santa, his sleigh and two reindeer featuring 51,100 LEGO bricks. Also, from Dec. 2 through 24, a child will randomly be selected to help pull the switch that lights the LEGO Christmas tree during a fun ceremony right before the Park closes each night.

“Let it Snow” returns with festive songs, dancing and a holiday story to warm guest’s hearts. The musical holiday show runs daily through January 1.

The holiday season concludes with the one-and-only Kids’ New Year’s Eve party in southern California on Dec. 31 with festivities beginning at 4 p.m.  For more information on the LEGOLAND theme park, event schedules, hours and prices visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO.