Written by: Alina Gomez, Staff Writer
CELEBRATE: Bringing prosperity to people’s lives, the Festival of Lights shares traditions with large holiday displays of lights around Downtown Riverside.
The Festival of Lights has been an ongoing tradition for decades and a huge spot for tourist attraction in Riverside California. Surrounding the Mission in Hotel and Spa is the festival; the hotel is covered in glaring lights and festive Christmas decorations. The 31st annual Festival of Lights it kicks off with the grand attraction of a firework show with live performances and an ice skating rink that is returning once again.
It has become a lovely place to spend time with family and friends, go ice skating, shop around the unique stores around downtown, and meet Santa Claus. Downtown Riverside has put up food stands filled with holiday treats to enjoy while walking around the breathtaking sights. Celebrating the Christmas season the area has fun carnival games as well as rides; the Ferris wheel is a huge hit every year. The festival’s mini Ferris wheel is a popular place where kids, couples, and friends enjoy the idealistic scenery of a lit-up city. It is spruced up in fun colored lights and life-sized Christmas characters that accessorize the streets.
The Festival of Lights is a celebration that is looked forward to by our families, to come and commemorate the holidays – holding the reputation of being a place for happiness to see children of all ages having fun! This annual festival’s history goes back to the word “Hanukkah” meaning dedication, the Festival of Lights is celebrated for the origin story of Jesus making sure he was in Jerusalem during Hanukkah for the Feast of Dedication. Now the Mission Inn is a memorable place of history where many from around the world come to visit our city of Riverside to celebrate and see these dazzling lights.