The 22nd Annual Riverside Festival of Lights on Main Street Riverside is your chance to experience the most dazzling holiday spectacle south of the North Pole.

The Festival offers five weeks of holiday merriment in Downtown Riverside, celebrating the season with family activities that include the “Switch-On Ceremony”; holiday decorations and lights on The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, Mission Inn Avenue and on City-owned buildings; the Inland Empire’s first outdoor ice skating rink; holiday-themed vendors; family-friendly live entertainment; and of course, Santa Claus.

It all begins with festive activities at noon and the flip of a switch on Friday, November 28th, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. during the “Switch-On Ceremony” presented by Duane and Kelly Roberts, owners of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. In one swift move Riverside’s downtown is instantly illuminated with more than three and a half million twinkling lights and spectacular fireworks! The Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce and the Festival of Lights Committee, consisting of community volunteers and local businesses, put in many long hours to coordinate the Ceremony.

The magic continues for festivalgoers as they glide under the stars on an outdoor ice skating rink located on Main Street Riverside between University and Mission Inn Avenues. Click here for more Ice Rink information, such as Ice Rink Hours of Operation, Skate Specials and to find out how you can obtain your 2014 Frequent Skater Card.

In addition to the lights and ice skating, holiday enthusiasts can be dazzled by more than 225 hours of live holiday entertainment, unique shopping and creative dining along Main Street Riverside.

And no holiday experience would be complete without a visit from the North Pole’s most famous resident. Santa Claus will be out every night from November 30th through December 24th.

The Riverside Festival of Lights allows everyone - no matter what age - to be charged with wonder and anticipation of the magic of the holidays. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this wonderful Riverside tradition.

If you are interested in supporting this wonderful Riverside tradition and would like to become a sponsor click here.