Festival of Lights Shines in Riverside

Riverside - Downtown Riverside will be all aglow once again this holiday season as more than 3.5 million Christmas lights shine for the 17th annual Festival of Lights.

Thousands turned out for the switch-on ceremony outside the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa on Friday night.

The festival, which Mission Inn owner Duane Roberts calls his "gift to the city," has been recognized as one of the most impressive holiday light displays in the country.

Christmas lights illuminate the hotel as well as buildings lining the Main Street pedestrian mall. A two-story Christmas tree will be on display in front of the hotel, complemented by some 400 animated characters, including elves, toy soldiers, nutcrackers and angels placed around the perimeter of the inn.

Other attractions include a 45- by 90-foot ice skating rink on Main Street, between Mission Inn and University avenues, carriage rides, carolers and an assortment of vendors.

There will be regular appearances by Santa Claus and his helpers on the mall through Christmas. The festival continues nightly until Jan. 3.

According to organizers, some 100,000 visitors took in the festival last year.