The famed “Festival of Lights” has returned to downtown Riverside, and will continue until the start of 2025, featuring millions of lights, holiday displays, carnival rides, caroling, Santa Claus and other entertainment on the pedestrian mall.

Like last year, this year’s fest began the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. The switch-on ceremony was held Saturday afternoon and was be presided over by Mission Inn Hotel & Spa owner Duane Roberts, members of the Riverside City Council and other guests.

Prior to 2023, the ceremonies were traditionally held the day after Thanksgiving, but according to organizers, there’s now an emphasis on getting a head start on the season’s activities.

Last year’s switch-on drew thousands of spectators. This year’s event included a free concert, featuring Matt Mauser & The Tijuana Dogs, as well as Richard Goodall, winner of the 2024 “America’s Got Talent” contest.

2024 Festival of Lights switch-on ceremony

This was the fest’s 32nd anniversary.

Roberts, who inaugurated the tradition in 1992, said in 2023 that the festival consistently draws up to 500,000 visitors over a one-month span, “all thrilled to watch the display come to life through the Holidays.”

Switch-on events were rescinded in November 2020 and November 2021. The 2020 event was prohibited because of the COVID lockdowns, and the city council decided to forgo the 2021 switch-on as a precautionary measure. The ceremony got back on track in 2022.

The nightly fest features the century-old inn bathed in multi-colored hues, with hundreds of animated characters, including elves, toy soldiers, nutcrackers and angels visible on banisters, balconies and ledges.

Towering Christmas trees and wooden soldiers traditionally line the way outside and into the hotel, where visitors also encounter a mistletoe measuring 12-by-8 feet.

Ice skating is slated to be available on the Main Street pedestrian mall, and at the corner of Mission Inn Avenue and Lime Street, a Ferris wheel will be in operation. Carolers sometimes make appearances around the hotel.

There will be live musical entertainment weekly, photos with Santa Claus, as well as artisan booths and food vendors up and down the mall. The city festoons light standards and other municipal property with displays and lights.

City spokesman Phil Pitchford told City News Service roughly $1.5 million in municipal funds were allocated for this year’s fest, compared to about $1 million in 2023.

Although festivities will stop on Dec. 31, the lights are slated to stay on through the first week of January.

The post Riverside’s Mission Inn Hotel & Spa welcomes thousands as ‘Festival of Lights’ returns appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

RIVERSIDE, CA — The famed “Festival of Lights” will return to downtown Riverside in just over two weeks and continue to the start of 2025, featuring millions of lights, holiday displays, caroling, Santa Claus and other entertainment on the pedestrian mall.

Like last year, this year’s fest will begin the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. The switch-on ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23. Prior to 2023, the ceremonies were traditionally held the day after Thanksgiving, but according to organizers, there’s now an emphasis on getting a head start on the season’s activities.

Last year’s switch-on drew thousands of spectators. Organizers said this year’s switch-on will include a free concert featuring Matt Mauser & The Tijuana Dogs, as well as Richard Goodall, winner of the 2024 “America’s Got Talent” contest.

This will be the fest’s 32nd anniversary.

Mission Inn Hotel & Spa owner Duane Roberts, who inaugurated the tradition in 1992, said in 2023 that the festival consistently draws up to 500,000 visitors over a one-month span, “all thrilled to watch the display come to life through the holidays.”

Switch-on events were rescinded in November 2020 and November 2021. The 2020 event was prohibited because of the COVID lockdowns, and the City Council decided to forgo the 2021 switch-on as a precautionary measure. The ceremony got back on track in 2022.

The nightly fest features the century-old inn bathed in multi-colored hues, with hundreds of animated characters, including elves, toy soldiers, nutcrackers and angels, visible on banisters, balconies and ledges.

Towering Christmas trees and wooden soldiers traditionally line the way outside and into the hotel, where visitors also encounter a mistletoe measuring 12-by-8 feet.

There will be live musical entertainment weekly, photos with Santa Claus, as well as artisan booths and food vendors up and down the Main Street pedestrian mall. The city also festoons light standards and other municipal property with displays and lights.

Although festivities will stop on Dec. 31, the lights are slated to stay on through the first week of January.

The post ‘Festival Of Lights’ Returns To Downtown Riverside Starting Nov. 23 appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Fireworks and festivities the day after Thanksgiving kick off celebration of holiday cheer

Phil Pitchford | Riverside.org

The Festival of Lights will once again kick off with fireworks and an exciting switch-on ceremony at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 25 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the event and mark the beginning of the holiday season.

Visitors will enjoy millions of holiday lights at the historic hotel and holiday-themed decorations in the downtown area at what has become one of the nation’s most popular holiday events. This annual tradition draws visitors from around the globe.

“The Festival of Lights has been a joyous occasion for Riverside families for three decades,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said. “It is gratifying to see that Riversiders will once again be able to gather together for the switch-on ceremony.”

Information about the Festival can be found at RiversideFestivalofLights.com.

Guests can meet and take free photos with Santa Claus before his return to the North Pole on Dec. 24 every Thurs-Sun. from 5-10 p.m. during the duration of the event. Santa can be found on Main Street between University Avenue and Mission Inn Avenue along with City-sponsored holiday décor around the downtown area. Decorations include holiday-themed selfie stations, holiday trees, large ornaments, a sleigh, bows and garland on lights and bridges, and an assortment of holiday light displays.

A limited number of food and craft vendors will be present. Vendors, entertainment and artisans will continue through Dec. 31. Holiday décor and lighting will remain on through Jan. 6.

Past switch-on ceremonies, complete with the exciting countdown to the fireworks display, have attracted 75,000 people. Once the lights are switched on, they are a nightly attraction at the Mission Inn, drawing thousands of visitors to Riverside throughout the holiday season.

“Riverside families have looked forward to the return of the switch-on ceremony throughout the pandemic, so it is rewarding to see that patience rewarded,” Mayor Pro Tem Ronaldo Fierro said. “Our city is looking forward to another exciting event.”

The switch-on ceremony will be the first since 2019. The 2020 and 2021 ceremonies were not held because of concerns about the potential public health impacts of COVID-19. The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa continued its holiday lights display, which gave revelers from around Southern California a chance to enjoy the lights from their vehicles or while observing social distancing. The City of Riverside also reduced its programming during those years.

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The post Popular Switch-On Ceremony Returning to Festival of Lights in Riverside appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.