Who else is already getting in the holiday spirit? Christmas is just around the corner, and with it comes all the dazzling, extravagant lights and festivals that make this season so bright! If you’re looking for a place to experience Christmas in Southern California, you can’t go wrong with the Mission Inn Festival of Lights in Riverside…it’s one of the most splendid displays of Christmas lights you’ll ever see, and it gets bigger and better every year!
Mission Inn Festival of Lights 2019
The Mission Inn Festival of Lights is a long-standing California tradition, and every year they continue to top their own displays by adding more and more lights and Christmas-themed decorations. This year, the hotel is illuminated by over 5 million lights, 200 animated characters, and tons of other winter decorations!
The 2019 Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn is the 27th annual event, so you can imagine how stunning it is since they’ve been collecting decorations for so many years. Nearly every inch of the hotel is swathed in lights, Christmas trees, and poinsettias. Plus, Downtown Riverside also joins in on the fun with lights, carriage rides, live music, and more! This is an unforgettable holiday celebration that you won’t want to miss.
What to See and Do at the Mission Inn Festival of Lights, Riverside 2019
There are all sorts of things that you will want to see and do while you are at the Festival of Lights, but here are a few top things you won’t want to miss!
1. See the Lights
This one is obvious, as it is mainly what you’re coming to the festival for…but the Mission Inn Christmas lights are definitely the star of the show! The festival is free and open to the public, so you can wander around to see the lights on the exterior of the hotel and then can queue up in the line to wander the ground floor of the hotel where you can explore the corridors all decorated in a Winter Wonderland theme.
It can be a bit busy (especially on the weekends), so the lines can be quite long at times and you may have to wait a while. This may be a little challenging, particular if you have little kids with you..but it is worth it to see all the illuminated halls!
2. Take a Carriage Ride
If you want to feel like you’re really in a Winter Wonderland and jingling all the way (mixed with feeling like Cinderella!) then you should be sure to take a carriage ride around downtown. This is especially delightful as you can see all the decorations around town while you enjoy your ride in a horse-drawn carriage!
3. See the Gingerbread House
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Besides the lights, one other iconic feature of the festival is the Mission Inn Gingerbread House…which is, in fact, a miniature Mission Inn made out of gingerbread! With tiny details like trees, arches, and even stained glass windows, this gingerbread house is a delectable and delightful addition to the festivities. Make sure you go inside the hotel to see this, as it is both adorable and impressive at the same time.
4. View the Christmas Tree
If you’re looking for a fun spot to take a holiday photo, then you’ll want to head inside the Mission Inn to see the enormous Christmas tree in the lobby! It’s the perfect place to capture the memories you’re making at the festival, get that Christmas card photo you need, or simply enjoy the impressively decorated tree.
5. Mission Inn Christmas Brunch/Dinner/Etc.
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Last but not least, you may want to get dinner while you are enjoying the lights or brunch if you decide to stay the night at the Mission Inn. If you can, I highly recommend eating at the restaurant at the Mission Inn. (There are quite a few other options nearby, but note that not all of them may be open particularly if you come on a weekday).
If you want to eat dinner or brunch at the Mission Inn, you’ll need to make reservations in advance…but it is well worth it! I went to brunch while I was there, and it was heavenly. From endless king crab legs, to delicious cheeses, to fruits, eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, desserts…you name it! Brunch at the Mission Inn is a treat and will leave you full and beyond satisfied.
It’s also fun because during the Christmas season, you may also see Santa walking around and talking with guests while they eat. Definitely helps everyone stay in the holiday spirit!
Going Behind the Scenes at the Mission Inn Festival of Lights
While all of the above activities are fun, if you really want to enjoy the festival to the fullest then you should book a room at the hotel for a night. Staying at the Mission Inn at Christmas is a treat…and not only is it a fun getaway, but it allows you free access to roam the whole hotel and see all the behind the scenes decorations!
During the festival, only those that have a room booked are allowed upstairs in the hotel (they gave me a wristband when I checked in that I had to show whenever I wanted to go up to my room or another part of the hotel. There are literal guards to keep everyone out if they don’t have a room booked!).
While you can see a lot of fun decorations and lights in the free and public portion of the hotel, sometimes the experience can be a bit hurried or you have to wait in long lines to get inside. That’s why I recommend staying the night, as it kind of works like a skip-the-line/behind the scenes pass.
Having a room booked allows you to see the private sections of the hotel, including the gorgeous hallways (with huge old wooden pews along the halls), gives you access to the roof with seating areas to enjoy the view of the courtyard illuminated by lights, and even better—you have access to the pool, which is gorgeous with the lights reflecting off it! Spending the night definitely brings to life a new and more relaxed ambiance to enjoy all that the Mission Inn has to offer.
Click here to check availability or make a booking now!
Festival of Lights Mission Inn FAQ
1. When is the Mission Inn Festival of Lights 2019?
The Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn in 2019 runs from November 29th-January 6th. You can visit any day of the week during this time to enjoy a taste of the Mission Inn Riverside Christmas celebrations!
2. What are the Festival of Lights hours?
The hours for the festival change depending on the day, but for weekdays you’ll find it’s usually open from 5pm-10pm while on weekends it will run from around 3pm-10pm. You can check out the official Festival of Lights page for more information.
Be aware that you’ll have to wait in lines with crowds of other people to see the lights inside the Mission, as this is a beloved Christmas tradition for so many people in Southern California and for visitors from around the world! This is especially true on weekends, although there are usually still lines on weekdays too.
3. What is the entrance fee for the Mission Inn Light Festival?
There isn’t a fee—it’s free! (Yay!) However, if you want a more relaxed experience, want to see more of the hotel, or simply want a Christmas getaway, then I highly recommend spending at least a night here. It’s a really special hotel and is so fun to explore! You can check out the hotel or make a booking here.
4. Where do I park for the Festival of Lights?
Good question! Parking can be tricky, especially on weekends when Downtown Riverside is crowded for the festival. If you’re staying at the hotel, you can use their self park or valet services. But if you aren’t, then there’s some metered parking available if you’re lucky enough to snag it, or you can try one of the public lots downtown. You can find more detailed parking information here.
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