# Mission Inn Festival of Lights Thanksgiving Switch-On Weekend (Downtown Riverside) > Event for families in the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario area (CA). Times are Pacific Time. - When: Nov 27 – Nov 29 · 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM - Where: The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa & Main Street Pedestrian Mall, 3649 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA 92501 - Ages: All ages welcome; free pedestrian mall with wide stroller-friendly sidewalks - Price: Free admission to stroll outdoor light displays and Main Street Mall; food, carriage rides, and hotel dining available for purchase - Organizer: The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa & City of Riverside - Official page: https://riversideca.gov/fol/ - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 8, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-07), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/mission-inn-festival-of-lights-thanksgiving-switch-on-weekend-downtown--listing-0a4447a915e4e0b47a878db7 ## About Recognized nationally among the country's most spectacular holiday celebrations, the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa Festival of Lights illuminates downtown Riverside starting Thanksgiving weekend. Millions of sparkling lights drape the Spanish-Gothic castle architecture, accompanied by over 200 animated figures including angels, elves, and Charles Dickens carolers. The car-free Main Street Pedestrian Mall comes alive with holiday food vendors, hot cocoa stands, horse-drawn carriage rides, artisan gift booths, and visits with Santa Claus. It is completely free for families to stroll the exterior perimeter and pedestrian promenade, creating an enchanting kickoff to the winter holiday season. ## Similar picks in Riverside - [Riverside Festival of Trees Holiday Fair (Riverside Convention Center)](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/riverside-festival-of-trees-holiday-fair-riverside-convention-center--listing-5fb51457810bbeb54faed832) — Sat, Nov 28 · 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM · Riverside Convention Center · All ages · From $10 · checked Nov 4. Taking place the Saturday after Thanksgiving directly across from the Mission Inn, the Riverside Festival of Trees is an inspiring holiday tradition benefiting the pediatric… - [Old Town Temecula Thanksgiving Weekend & Santa's Arrival at Pennypickle's Workshop](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/old-town-temecula-thanksgiving-weekend-and-santa-s-arrival-at-pennypic--listing-8e8a1828501e415bbc0a97eb) — Nov 27 – Nov 29 · 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM · Pennypickle's Workshop (Temecula Children's Museum) & Old Town Boardwalk · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. Old Town Temecula kicks off its festive 'Temecula Chilled' holiday season immediately following Thanksgiving. On Black Friday evening, Santa Claus arrives at Professor… - [Candy Land at Albert S. White Park (Festival of Lights)](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/candy-land-at-albert-s-white-park-festival-of-lights--listing-2c4b27cffc70c43230b13f55) — Nov 27 – Dec 27 · Albert S. White Park · From $15 · checked Oct 28. New ticketed holiday attraction listed on the City of Riverside's Festival of Lights page for the 2026 season: Candy Land at Albert S. White Park, 3936 Chestnut St., running… - [The Mission Inn Festival of Lights](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/the-mission-inn-festival-of-lights--listing-a101b202c303d404e505f606) — Nov 21 – Jan 3 · 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM · The Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. Consistently voted USA Today's #1 Best Public Light Display, the Mission Inn Festival of Lights transforms historic Downtown Riverside into a breathtaking holiday wonderland… - [Festival of Lights Switch-on Ceremony (34th Annual)](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/festival-of-lights-switch-on-ceremony-34th-annual--listing-6deba4a126f93abc86f97871) — Sat, Nov 21 · 5:00 PM · Orange Street and Mission Inn Avenue (Downtown Riverside, in front of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa) · checked Oct 13. Opening night of the 34th Annual Mission Inn Hotel & Spa Festival of Lights in Downtown Riverside's Arts and Culture District. The City of Riverside's festival page lists the… - [34th Annual Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/34th-annual-festival-of-lights-at-the-mission-inn-hotel-and-spa--listing-d95f6fc3f2539ac03675e772) — Nov 21 – Jan 3 · The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa · checked Oct 13. The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in downtown Riverside is decorated with more than 10 million lights, animated displays and holiday figures for its 34th Annual Festival of Lights… ## More for families - [Things to do with kids in Riverside County, CA](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/counties/riverside-county-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/counties/riverside-county-ca.md) - [Christmas lights and holiday events for kids in Riverside](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/christmas) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/christmas.md) - [Thanksgiving break with kids in Riverside](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/thanksgiving) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/thanksgiving.md) - [This weekend in Riverside](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in Riverside](https://grassyknees.com/riverside) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside.md)