The 24th Annual Riverside Festival of Lights is now open to the public. The switch-on ceremony took place on November 25th. The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce and the City of Riverside sponsor the festival. The annual event features more than four million lights.

The festival will feature some crowd favorites like Magical Moments with Santa Clause, music and entertainment, and food vendors will provide visitors with tasty treats. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the artisans collective will be set up.

The artisans collective is an arts market where festival goers may purchase art from local artists, hear music from local bands, and participate in art workshops.

The 2016 entertainment schedule has been released and a number of bands, solo artists, and high school choirs will be taking the stage at the festival. Performing at the Ben Franklin Stage will be Groovelabs, Riverside Concert Band, and Centennial High School Madrigal & Treble Choir among others. The main stage will feature Sol De Mexico Ballet Folklorico, Colors In Motion Dance Crew, and Poly Theatre Arts.

Horse carriage rides are also available. All festival visitors may board the carriages using one of the three sites set up throughout Main Street. The Century Wheel, Vintage Carousel, and Trackless Train Ride are new attractions this year.

In 2015 USA Today named the Riverside Festival of Lights the Best Holiday Festival. In 2014 the festival won the 10Best Readers’ Choice award for Best Public Lights Display.