Festival of Lights

It's that time of year again when downtown Riverside's historic Mission Inn is aglow with millions of holiday lights and hundreds of animated figures. Each year, the crowds get a little bit bigger and the lights a little bit brighter as visitors stroll the downtown pedestrian mall, tiny shops and streets surrounding the Mission Inn hotel to view the colorful display.

The Mission Inn

For 13 years, the day after Thanksgiving has served as the Festival's
traditional lighting ceremony. Inn owner Duane Roberts estimates he's spent in excess of $2 million dollars over the years in assembling and producing the yearly spectacle. And the proof is in the pudding as the Inn's "Festival of Lights" has received accolades in a number of high-profile publications, including a photo in this year's "holiday" section in People Magazine:

The Festival also received mention as one of America's Best Holiday Lights displays the past 2 years.

The Festival of Lights runs nightly through Sunday, January 8, 2006.

Related

• Mission Inn - Festival of Lights


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Holiday lights ablaze at Mission Inn