The City of Riverside is gearing up for the 27th annual Festival of Lights!
This beloved holiday tradition attracts over 750,000 visitors to the historic Mission Inn in to gaze at the downtown Riverside landmark covered in over 5 million holiday lights, decorated with 400 animatronic figures and filled with holiday music. Over 75,000 people attend the annual switch-on ceremony, held the Friday evening after Thanksgiving.
“The Festival of Lights is a time-honored way to celebrate the kick-off of the holiday season with family and friends,” Mayor Rusty Bailey said in a press release. “This beloved event also showcases our historic downtown, which provides an incredible boost to our local businesses.”
The switch-on ceremony will be held on Friday, November 29th, starting at 4:30pm, with fireworks following approximately an hour later. Vendors and attractions open at noon.
This year's festival includes horse-drawn carriages, vendors, live music in the breezeway of City Hall on Main Street between 9th and 10th Streets, and a large snow globe on Main Street between University and Mission Inn Avenues. Visitors can step inside the snow globe and take a selfie with a replica of the famous UCR bell tower. The century wheel and carousel will move to the parking lot adjacent to City Hall at 10th and Main Streets.
Readers of USA Today proclaimed the Festival of Lights America's Best Holiday Festival in 2015 and America's Best Public Lights Display in 2014.