It’s never too early to start planning your holiday season activities. The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa has just announced this year’s dates for its Festival of Lights, an incredible display of lights and decorations that is free to the public.
The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa is located in downtown Riverside, California, just about halfway between Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Open year round as a high class stay destination in the Inland Empire, the Inn has made a name for itself with this annual orchestration of holiday lights. This year marks the festival’s 21st year up and running.
The lights will be on display between November 29 and January 4 of next year. That’s right. A “flip of the switch” ceremony will take place the day after Thanksgiving illuminating nearly 4 million individual bulbs with a fireworks show to cap it all off. Witness a mesmerizing scene that can only really be appreciated with your own two eyes in person. With more than 400 animated characters and decorations that spread around and throughout the castle-like hotel, setting this up takes more than two months of 24-hour efforts by a massive crew.
This year will include plenty of additional activities for visitors, including an outdoor ice skating rink and live reindeer. Enjoy hot cocoa and warm treats from nearby vendors. Adults can experience the “12 Days of Christmas” cocktail menu, an assortment of unique holiday-inspired drinks at the President’s Lounge inside the hotel. Kids have an opportunity to visit Santa and hear songs from carolers dressed in Dickens-like costumes. Mission simply brings the magic of the holidays to any age group.
Want to take this festival up a notch? Book a stay at the hotel and enjoy exclusive room packages available on a first come, first served basis.
To learn more, visit MissionInn.com and FestivalOfLightsCA.com
Photos: missioninn.com
