"The LEGO® Movie" Star Elizabeth Banks Lights The World's Largest LEGO® Christmas Tree At LEGOLAND® California Resort!

CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Actress Elizabeth Banks took time out of her busy schedule to help Santa light the world's largest LEGO® Christmas tree at LEGOLAND® California Resort at the 11^th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Carlsbad, California. Banks, a mother of two, stars as the voice of "Wyldstyle" in "The LEGO® Movie" being released on February 7, 2014, and currently stars as Effie Trinket in the hit movie, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." At the ceremony, Banks presented a check from LEGOLAND California Resort for $10,000 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.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please visit: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59739-legoland-california-christmas-tree-lighting-elizabeth-banks-the-lego-movie 

Fireworks lit up the sky, snow fell from the rooftops of Fun Town and more than 11,000 LED lights illuminated the 30-foot tall Christmas tree after Banks and Santa pulled the switch to light the tree. President and CEO of LA's BEST Carla Sanger and her two granddaughters, Zada Sanger (8) and Liliana Sanger (4) , were also on stage to help light the tree that is created out of more than 245,000 forest green DUPLO® bricks and is adorned with more than 400 LEGO® ornaments.

Guests at the ceremony were treated to a special trailer of "The LEGO Movie" and witnessed the unveiling of the theme park's newest LEGO costume characters "Emmet" and "Wyldstyle" based on the two lead characters from the movie.  The first full-length theatrical LEGO^® adventure, "The LEGO^® Movie" is an original 3D computer animated story that follows Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world.  He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared. 

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, "The LEGO Movie" stars Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie and Charlie Day, with Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman.  Lord and Miller also wrote the screenplay, from a story by Dan Hageman and Kevin Hageman and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, based on LEGO construction toys.  "The LEGO Movie" is produced by Dan Lin and Roy Lee.  Executive producers are Jill Wilfert, Matthew Ashton, Kathleen Fleming, Allison Abbate, Zareh Nalbandian, Jon Burton, Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Seanne Winslow, Matt Skiena and Bruce Berman; and co-producer is John Powers Middleton.  The filmmaking team includes cinematographer Pablo Plaisted, production designer Grant Freckelton, editors David Burrows and Chris McKay, and composer Mark Mothersbaugh.  Chris McKay also serves as animation co-director.

The tree lighting ceremony is part of LEGOLAND California's coolest holiday celebration ever, Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights.  During this time, Fun Town is transformed 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.

"The LEGO Movie" is a Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, in association with LEGO System A/S, a Vertigo Entertainment/Lin Pictures Production.  It will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. For downloadable images from and information about The LEGO® Movie, please visit: http://MediaPass.warnerbros.com. For downloadable broadcast quality film footage, please visit:  www.EPK.tv. For more information, visit: theLEGOmovie.com.

LA's BEST - Better Educated Students for Tomorrow - is a nationally recognized after school education, enrichment and recreation program serving more than 28,000 children with the greatest needs and fewest resources throughout the City of Los Angeles. LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program provides a safe haven for children ages 5 to 12 at 194 elementary school sites each day during the critical hours after school — at no cost to parents. Established in 1988, LA's BEST is a partnership including the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the private sector. LA's BEST is part of Beyond the Bell, whose mission is to ensure that all children and youth in LAUSD have access to high quality, safe and supervised academic, enrichment, and recreation programs that inspire learning and achievement beyond the regular school day. For more information, please visit www.lasbest.org. 

For more information on Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights at LEGOLAND, event schedules, hours and prices visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO.

LEGOLAND® California Resort includes LEGOLAND® California, SEA LIFE® Aquarium, LEGOLAND® Water Park and LEGOLAND® Hotel. All are geared for families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. At LEGOLAND California, you'll find more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display, Pirate Reef and LEGO® Legends of Chima Water Park opening summer 2014. SEA LIFE Aquarium is home to more than 5,000 living creatures and incorporates LEGO® models into a child's voyage to the depths of the ocean featuring play zones, fun facts and quiz trails. LEGOLAND Water Park features more than 7 slides, sandy beaches and the unique Build-A-Raft River. The nation's first LEGOLAND Hotel features 250 rooms, all themed either as pirate, adventure, or kingdom plus more than 3,500 LEGO models throughout the three-story hotel. LEGOLAND California Resort is part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator with more than 99 attractions, eight hotels/three holiday villages in 22 countries across four continents. For more information, visit: www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen dynamic growth over the last five years. Europe's number one and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 99 attractions, eight hotels/three holiday villages in 22 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 54 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 22,000 employees. 

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please visit: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59739-legoland-california-christmas-tree-lighting-elizabeth-banks-the-lego-movie

SOURCE LEGOLAND California Resort