21st annual ‘Festival of Lights’
![2010 - Main Street pedestrian mall during Festival of Lights (RXSQ)](https://raincrosssquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/riv-2010c-dt-fol-058a-800-300x200.jpg)
Each year, thousands of visitors gather in and around the Mission Inn and along the pedestrian mall in downtown Riverside for the ‘Festival of Lights,’ which includes approximately 4 million holiday lights and over 400 animated figures. What began in 1993 as a modest, hotel-only event has grown into one of the premier holiday lights displays in the country.
Roving carolers, carriage rides, an ice rink, live entertainment, shopping, dining and — of course — photos with Santa round out the festivities. This year’s Festival runs daily from November 29 through January 4, 2014 (excepting Christmas).
![2009 - Ice rink on the pedestrian mall during Festival of Lights (RXSQ)](https://raincrosssquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/riv-2009c-dt-fol-027a-800-300x200.jpg)
The day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 29) is the official “Lighting Ceremony” — including a fireworks show — that takes place usually around 5 p.m. in front of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. (Be sure to arrive early for the opening night ceremony!)
As usual, free parking (street and garage) is available after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on the weekends and holidays (the exception is for the Nov. 29th Lighting Ceremony, where some parking is $5). Your best bet is within six parking garages:
![](https://raincrosssquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/riv-2010c-dt-fol-064a-500-200x300.jpg)
- Two identical Orange Street garages: near Mission Inn | near University
- Two Ninth Street garages: at Orange | at Market
- One Market Street garage: between University and Mission Inn
- The Fox Theater garage (corner of Sixth and Fairmount)
You can also check out activity via two city webcams: Mission Inn | Skating Rink
Related
- Riverside Press-Enterprise – Info on Riverside’s biggest holiday event (Nov. 28)
- City of Riverside – Festival of Lights | Parking info
- Mission Inn – Festival of Lights
Sources: City of Riverside, Mission Inn