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The 2024-2025 Mission Inn Festival Of Lights: Exact Hours, Dates, And 7 Insider Tips You Need To Know

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The Mission Inn Festival of Lights is one of Southern California's most spectacular and anticipated holiday events, transforming the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California, into a dazzling, one-of-a-kind winter wonderland. As of today, December 24, 2025, the most current and essential information for visitors revolves around the daily light schedule, the official operating dates, and crucial tips to navigate the massive crowds drawn to the 10 million twinkling lights. The 32nd Annual Festival of Lights is scheduled to run from late November 2024 through early January 2025, with the lights turning on every evening at dusk—a key detail for anyone planning their visit. Understanding the exact dates and the daily "lights on" time is vital for maximizing your experience at this nationally recognized event, which USA Today and Newsweek have consistently honored.

The Official 2024-2025 Mission Inn Lights Hours and Key Dates

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa’s Festival of Lights is not just a single night event; it is a multi-week celebration that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Inland Empire. Knowing the precise start and end dates, as well as the daily operational hours, is the first step in planning your trip to Downtown Riverside.
  • 2024-2025 Festival Dates: The Festival of Lights runs from Saturday, November 23, 2024, through Monday, January 6, 2025. This six-week period is when the historic hotel and surrounding area are fully illuminated.
  • Daily Lights Turn-On Time: The lights are turned on nightly at dusk, which typically occurs around 5:00 PM. This is the magical moment when the entire facade of the Mission Inn and the grounds come to life.
  • Daily Lights Turn-Off Time: While the exact turn-off time is not consistently published, the lights remain on throughout the evening. Visitors can generally expect the display to be fully operational until at least 10:00 PM on weekends and a slightly earlier time on weekdays.
  • The Grand Switch-On Ceremony: The official kick-off event is the "Grand Switch-On" on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The ceremony begins promptly at 5:00 PM at the intersection of Orange St. and Mission Inn Ave.
  • Switch-On Event Details: The Grand Switch-On is a massive event that includes a celebrity-packed concert, a spectacular fireworks show, and the moment the entire hotel is simultaneously illuminated. It is the busiest night of the entire festival.
The scale of the display is staggering, featuring over 10 million twinkling lights that cover the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture of the hotel. This annual tradition was inaugurated in 1992 by the Keepers of The Mission Inn, Kelly & Duane Roberts, as a way to support the city and has since grown into one of the nation's largest holiday light displays.

Beyond the Lights: Must-See Attractions and Festive Entities

The Festival of Lights is more than just a light display; it’s a full-fledged holiday experience complete with festive decorations, entertainment, and food. To fully capture the topical authority of the event, visitors should be aware of the numerous attractions that transform the Downtown Riverside Arts and Culture District. The entire event area becomes a "winter wonderland" with various entities and attractions to explore:
  • Dazzling Animatronics: Look for the elaborate, animated figures and scenes set up around the hotel and Main Street Pedestrian Mall. These displays feature everything from holiday characters to whimsical creatures.
  • Towering Christmas Trees: The festival features several enormous, beautifully decorated Christmas trees that serve as perfect photo opportunities.
  • The World's Largest Man-Made Wreath: A highlight often mentioned in national coverage is the massive, man-made wreath, a truly unique piece of holiday décor.
  • Carnival Rides and Entertainment: In previous years, the festival has included a variety of carnival rides, such as a roller coaster and a Ferris wheel, adding a family-friendly amusement park atmosphere to the celebration.
  • The Mission Inn Candy Lane Store: This store offers holiday-themed décor, sweet treats, and gingerbread cookies from around the world. It’s a great spot to grab a souvenir or a festive snack.
  • Food and Vendor Booths: The surrounding streets are filled with food vendors offering seasonal favorites, hot cocoa, and other treats to enjoy while strolling through the lights.
The combination of the historic hotel's architecture, the sheer volume of lights, and the additional festive activities makes the Festival of Lights a deeply immersive holiday tradition for the Inland Empire community and tourists alike.

7 Insider Tips to Beat the Crowds and Traffic for a Perfect Visit

The immense popularity of the Mission Inn Festival of Lights means that crowds and traffic can be significant, especially on weekends and closer to Christmas. To ensure a stress-free and enjoyable visit, follow these current insider tips:
  1. Avoid the Switch-On Ceremony (If You Hate Crowds): The Grand Switch-On on November 23rd is the busiest night of the season. If your main goal is to simply see the lights, plan your visit for a weekday in early December or in the first week of January.
  2. Arrive Early (The "3 PM Rule"): To secure good parking and explore the area before the lights turn on, aim to arrive in Downtown Riverside by 3:00 PM. This allows you time to grab dinner at one of the local restaurants before the 5:00 PM illumination.
  3. Utilize the Downtown Parking Guide: Do not rely on street parking directly next to the hotel. The City of Riverside publishes an official Downtown Parking Guide with a map of all available parking structures. Garage parking (like the Main Library lot) is generally the best and most secure option.
  4. Consider the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA): For the ultimate stress-free arrival, use public transportation. The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) offers routes that can drop you off near the Mission Inn, allowing you to bypass all the traffic and parking hassles.
  5. Go on a Weekday Night: The crowds are dramatically smaller from Monday through Thursday, particularly in the first few weeks of the festival. This is the best time for photography and a more relaxed experience.
  6. Book Dining Reservations in Advance: If you plan to dine at one of the popular restaurants inside the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa or in the surrounding downtown area, reservations are essential and should be made weeks in advance.
  7. Walk the Main Street Pedestrian Mall: After viewing the hotel, walk the adjacent Main Street Pedestrian Mall. The city’s decorations and vendors extend along this route, offering more space to move and additional photo opportunities away from the immediate crush of people at the hotel entrance.
By planning around the official Mission Inn lights hours (5:00 PM daily turn-on) and utilizing these current tips, your visit to the Festival of Lights will be a truly magical and memorable holiday experience.
The 2024-2025 Mission Inn Festival of Lights: Exact Hours, Dates, and 7 Insider Tips You Need to Know
mission inn lights hours
mission inn lights hours

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