Riverside’s annual Festival of Lights is set to return to downtown Nov. 21, bringing millions of holiday lights, fireworks, live entertainment and family activities to the Mission Inn and surrounding streets.
The 34th annual celebration will begin with a switch-on ceremony at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Orange Street and Mission Inn Avenue, featuring recording artist Gavin DeGraw, Santa Claus and a fireworks show.
The festival, presented in partnership with the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce and the Riverside Arts Council, will continue through Dec. 31. Downtown festivities will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, while the holiday lights are expected to remain illuminated through the first week of January.
The event was established in 1992 by longtime Mission Inn owner Duane Roberts, who died in November 2025 at age 88. Roberts traditionally led the opening ceremonies and helped build the festival into one of Riverside’s largest annual attractions.
The switch-on ceremony was moved from the day after Thanksgiving to the Saturday before the holiday in 2023 to give visitors an earlier start to the season.
The Mission Inn will again serve as the centerpiece, with its historic architecture illuminated in multiple colors and decorated with hundreds of animated holiday figures, including angels, elves, toy soldiers and nutcrackers.
Activities inside the hotel will include Lights and Delights tours, a Holiday Market, a Festival of Lights store, a Build-A-Bear Workshop, Christmas carolers and VIP Santa photos.
Families also can attend Breakfast with Santa on Saturday and Sunday mornings from Nov. 22 through Dec. 20. Santa will be available for photos on Main Street, between Mission Inn and University avenues, Thursday through Sunday evenings after 5 p.m.
Main Street will feature illuminated tree canopies and daily food vendors. Beginning Nov. 27, community performances will take place Thursday through Sunday at the Benjamin Franklin Stage near Main and Ninth streets. Local artists also will sell holiday gifts along the pedestrian mall.
Food offerings will include baked goods, roasted nuts, jerky, funnel cakes, kettle corn, tamales, hot chocolate and churros from vendors including The Gingerbread Shop, Robertson’s Roasted Nuts, Bubba’s Jerky, Kettle Tyme, Barrett’s Tamales and JC Concessions.
A new addition this year will be Holiday Magic at Candy Lane, a ticketed holiday attraction at Albert S. White Park, 3936 Chestnut St., near City Hall.
The attraction will operate Thursday through Sunday from Nov. 27 through Dec. 27, excluding Christmas Day, with additional daily programming Dec. 21-24.
Visitors can explore an illuminated Holiday Light Maze, a holiday photo trail and a games village featuring oversized lawn games and seasonal activities. A Snowball Arena will offer interactive games using soft snowballs, while the Snowfall Lounge will provide a place to relax and enjoy seasonal refreshments.
The attraction also will include a Holiday Art Trail featuring illuminated installations commissioned from local artists and an Artisan Marketplace with handcrafted goods. Food and beverage vendors will offer seasonal items, including hot chocolate and hot apple cider.
The downtown celebration also will include the return of Merry Arts Walk on Dec. 3 and Dec. 17, featuring art vendors, entertainment and cultural activities throughout the festival area.
“The Mission Inn and Festival of Lights are central to Riverside’s identity, bringing history to life, supporting downtown businesses, and creating lasting family memories,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in a statement. “We welcome the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation as the Inn’s new owners and look forward to preserving its legacy while continuing the traditions and hospitality that make Riverside so special, even more so during the holiday season.”
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena said the tribe, which is the Mission Inn’s new owner, is honored to join the city in continuing the holiday tradition.
“The Festival of Lights is about bringing people together, spending time with family and loved ones, and creating memories that endure across generations,” Valbuena said.
“The Festival of Lights is one of Riverside’s most cherished traditions and a powerful driver of community pride, tourism, and economic activity throughout our region,” added Nicholas Adcock, president and CEO of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. “The Chamber is proud to partner in this annual celebration that brings families, visitors, and businesses together while showcasing the very best of Riverside and the spirit of our community.”
The City Council generally allocates between $1 million and $1.5 million in municipal funds for festival decorations, entertainment and related activities.
Event schedules, attraction information and ticket prices are available at RiversideCA.gov/FOL.
