Thousands Flock To Downtown Riverside For Festival Of Lights Switch-On Ceremony

Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Riverside Friday evening for the Festival of Lights switch-on ceremony.

Among them were the Alvarez family, who got there at 2 p.m. to make sure they got front row seats as the more than 5 million lights and 400 animatronic figures came to life.

“We’re just excited,” Rebecca Alvarez said.

Alvarez, who also runs a TikTok account called Haunted Traveler, said she was drawn to The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa because of its supposed haunted rooms, hallways and catacombs.

“It’s our first year on opening day,” she said. “We’re here for the lights and the fireworks show.”

The festivities started at sunset with vendors set up selling everything from cookies and churros to decadent hot chocolate drinks topped with marshmallows, whipped cream and two gingerbread cookies on top.

“It’s so good,” Abigail Dominguez said of the hot chocolate. “It’s a lot of sugar, it’s making me sick, but it’s so good.”

Dominguez and her mother walked to the festival from their home just in time to grab the sweet treat, find a spot in front of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa and settle in to hear Festival of Lights Committee Chair Cindy Roth and Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson welcome the estimated 75,000 spectators to the ceremony.

“Now, 30 years ago there was a chain link fence around The Mission Inn when Duane and Kelly Roberts purchased it out of bankruptcy,” Roth said. “The Roberts had a vision to bring a special holiday festival to The Mission Inn and to the Riverside community, and today we see the amazing results of that vision and their continuous financial investment in downtown Riverside.”

Also in attendance were State Senator Richard Roth, Assemblymember Jose Medina, Assemblymember-elect Bill Essayli, Col. John Corey Reed and Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez from March Air Reserve Base, Supervisor Karen Spiegel, County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen, Riverside City Council members Erin Edwards, Clarissa Cervantes, Ronaldo Fierro, Chuck Conder, Jim Perry and Steve Hemenway; interim city manager and Fire Chief Michael Moore and new City Manager Mike Futrell.

“This event is a great way for families and friends of all walks of life to come together and celebrate this wonderful holiday season,” Lock Dawson said. “And when I was asked earlier what the best part of the Festival of Lights is: It’s free. It’s free for you to come down and enjoy this with your family and friends and get into the holiday spirit.”

At the end of the brief ceremony, the crowd counted down from 10 and cheered as the lights turned on and fireworks shot up into the sky high above The Mission Inn.

“It’s really cool to see it all come back,” Laniea Dominguez said. “Gosh, I missed it!”

Decorations throughout downtown Riverside—including holiday-themed selfie stations, holiday trees, large ornaments, a sleigh, bows and garland—will be on display from 5-9 p.m. through the end of the year. Lights and decor at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa will remain up through Jan. 6. More information about the Festival of Lights can be found here.