Streets at Southpoint lines up snow, Swarovski tree, Santa

This year, the mall will be home to the only Swarovski Christmas tree in the country (another is located in Toronto). The 30-foot tree in the mall's center court will be decorated with more than 3,000 of Swarovski's annual Christmas ornaments, which shine even more brightly when the lights hit them. Another 1,000 Swarovski Holiday Ornaments will hang from the ceiling. (There is a Swarovski store at Southpoint where you can be entered to win their own 2015 annual edition ornament. No purchase is necessary, but head over to the store for details).

The mall's tree lighting will take place at 7 p.m., Friday.

Also this year, the mall will feature daily snowfalls at entrance 4, which connects the mall to Main Street near West Elm and Altar'd States. Snowfall starts at 4 p.m., Fridays, and runs on the hour every hour until close. It will start at noon on the weekends and run on the hour every hour until close.

Santa will start sitting for pictures this Saturday. He's also available for a special breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., Saturday, at California Pizza Kitchen at Southpoint. Santa will be walking around the restaurant, greeting diners. The cost is $8 per person for breakfast pizzas. Call 919-361-4200 to make reservations. (A few of the time slots are getting close to full).

Finally, the mall has a few new stores this holiday season. Vineyard Vines, Zales and Moon & Lola are open. There's also a renovated Origins. The food court includes stationary versions of local food truck favorites - American Meltdown and Porchetta.