Ready for holiday excitement, Riverside? Our guide has everything you need to celebrate the season. Whether you're a Riverside expert or a novice, this guide unlocks the city's festive secrets.
This season, the Mission Inn Festival of Lights enchants visitors with its dazzling displays, featuring millions of twinkling lights and festive decorations throughout the historic Mission Inn. For those looking for something extraordinary, Cirque Dreams Holidaze presents a unique blend of acrobatics and holiday cheer, captivating audiences with its imaginative performances. And the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Ghosts of Christmas Eve” is something you definitely don't want to miss, bringing a powerful mix of music and storytelling to the holiday stage. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Riverside
- Mission Inn Festival of Lights
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Ghosts of Christmas Eve” (Ontario)
- Cirque Dreams Holidaze
- The Polar Express Train Ride (Perris)
- Holiday Road (Calabasas)
- A Christmas Carol (Temecula)
- Festival of the Trees Holiday Fair
- Santa’s Electric Light Parade (Temecula)
- It's Peachy Merry Everything Holiday Market (Temecula)
- Hemet Christmas Parade (Hemet)
See these and even more events listed below!
Riverside Holiday Light Displays
Mission Inn Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Nation's largest holiday light collection with animated figures.
Description:
The Mission Inn Festival of Lights is a cherished annual tradition featuring over three million Christmas lights and 400 animated figures. It attracts over 500,000 visitors each year, showcasing the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in a spectacular display of holiday decorations.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Mission Inn Festival of Lights
Santa’s Electric Light Parade
What to Expect:
Spectacular light displays and festive atmosphere.
Description:
The Santa's Electric Light Parade in Temecula, CA, features twinkling lights from decorated floats, holiday music from school marching bands, and festive marchers making their way down the parade route into Old Town Temecula.
Where: Temecula | More Info: Santa’s Electric Light Parade
Holiday Road
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday trail with interactive displays and festive activities.
Description:
Holiday Road is an immersive holiday experience featuring larger-than-life holiday installations, thousands of Christmas lights, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves, and countless candy canes. The event takes place at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, CA, with designated time slots for entry and a variety of food and beverage options available.
Where: Calabasas | More Info: Holiday Road
Riverside Holiday Markets and Shopping
Festival of the Trees Holiday Fair
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday event with decorated trees and local vendors.
Description:
The Festival of Trees Holiday Fair is a free family event featuring over 46 beautifully decorated holiday trees, 50 local craft vendors and artisans, delicious holiday treats, free kids activities, local holiday dance performances, and Santa. Children can create holiday cards and crafts to take home and visit Santa for a photo.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Festival of the Trees Holiday Fair
Menifee Hometown Holiday Festival
What to Expect:
Holiday shopping with community activities.
Description:
The Menifee Hometown Holiday Festival is a community event featuring over 60 vendors, food and drinks, Santa visits, an Ugly Sweater Contest, and a Charity Toy Drive.
Where: Menifee | More Info: Menifee Hometown Holiday Festival
It's Peachy Merry Everything Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday market with 55 local vendors.
Description:
Join It's Peachy at Promenade Temecula for a fun holiday market featuring 55 local businesses, DJ music, photo ops, and special guests Elsa and Anna from Frozen.
Where: Temecula | More Info: It's Peachy Merry Everything Holiday Market
Riverside Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
What to Expect:
Dazzling holiday theatrical event blending Broadway and circus arts.
Description:
Cirque Dreams Holidaze is a Broadway-style production infused with contemporary circus arts, featuring a dazzling spectacle of charm, sparkle, and talent.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Ghosts of Christmas Eve”
What to Expect:
Rock opera with a runaway's journey in an abandoned theater.
Description:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve," a rock opera featuring a runaway who breaks into an abandoned vaudeville theater on December 24th. The show balances new elements with old favorites, offering a quirky charm and captivating performances.
Where: Ontario | More Info: Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Ghosts of Christmas Eve”
The Polar Express Train Ride
What to Expect:
Interactive theatrical experience with Santa and onboard entertainment.
Description:
The Polar Express Train Ride is a live production where passengers embark on a one-hour journey to the North Pole, enjoying hot chocolate, cookies, and a reading of The Polar Express. Santa and his helpers greet passengers, and each guest receives a silver sleigh bell as the first gift of Christmas.
Where: Perris | More Info: The Polar Express Train Ride
A Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Classic holiday musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel.
Description:
Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy but miserly man, is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, leading him to reevaluate his life and values.
Where: Temecula | More Info: A Christmas Carol
Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
What to Expect:
Traditional Mexican music and dance performances.
Description:
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande present a vibrant celebration of Mexican Christmas traditions, weaving cherished customs into a rich cultural tapestry.
Where: Rancho Cucamonga | More Info: Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
Tibbies’ Holiday Follies
What to Expect:
Nostalgic holiday variety show with a talented cast.
Description:
Tibbies’ Holiday Follies is a festive holiday show featuring tap dancing Toy Soldiers, breathtaking vocal arrangements, and high-energy dance numbers. The event celebrates its 31st Christmas season with dazzling costumes and hilarious holiday parodies, inspired by classic TV specials.
Where: Rancho Cucamonga | More Info: Tibbies’ Holiday Follies
Riverside Other Holiday Activities
Holiday Bike Tour
What to Expect:
Guided bike tour showcasing neighborhood holiday decorations.
Description:
Join a guided bike tour through Temecula's neighborhoods to admire the dazzling holiday decorations.
Where: Temecula | More Info: Holiday Bike Tour
Hemet Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Star Spangled Christmas theme honoring America's bravest.
Description:
The Hemet Christmas Parade is a nighttime event celebrating Christmas with a Star Spangled theme, honoring America's bravest. Decorated floats, bands, and walking units participate in the parade along the Gilbert Street to Santa Fe Street route.
Where: Hemet | More Info: Hemet Christmas Parade
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Rubidoux (3 miles)
- Glen Avon (6 miles)
- Jurupa Valley (7 miles)
- Bloomington (8 miles)
- Norco (9 miles)
- Moreno Valley (10 miles)
- Colton (10 miles)
- Eastvale (10 miles)
- Fontana (10 miles)
- Loma Linda (10 miles)
- Rialto (11 miles)
- Corona (11 miles)
- San Bernardino (12 miles)
- Redlands (14 miles)
- Perris (15 miles)
- Rancho Cucamonga (15 miles)
- Highland (16 miles)
- Ontario (16 miles)
- Chino (17 miles)
- Upland (18 miles)
- Montclair (19 miles)
- Lake Elsinore (20 miles)
- Chino Hills (21 miles)
- Yucaipa (21 miles)
- Claremont (21 miles)
- Menifee (21 miles)
- Pomona (22 miles)
- La Verne (24 miles)
- Beaumont (24 miles)
- Diamond Bar (24 miles)
- Yorba Linda (24 miles)
- Rancho Santa Margarita (25 miles)
- Wildomar (25 miles)
- San Dimas (26 miles)
- North Tustin (26 miles)
- Lake Forest (27 miles)
- Walnut (27 miles)
- San Jacinto (28 miles)
- Placentia (28 miles)
- Hemet (28 miles)
- Tustin (29 miles)
- Orange (29 miles)
- Brea (29 miles)
- Mission Viejo (29 miles)
- Rowland Heights (29 miles)
- South San Jose Hills (29 miles)
- Murrieta (30 miles)
- Glendora (30 miles)
- Laguna Hills (30 miles)
- Ladera Ranch (30 miles)
- Covina (30 miles)
- Banning (30 miles)
- Santa Ana (31 miles)
- Anaheim (31 miles)
- Fullerton (31 miles)
- Irvine (31 miles)
- La Habra (32 miles)
- Azusa (32 miles)
- Valinda (32 miles)
- La Puente (32 miles)
- West Covina (32 miles)
- Aliso Viejo (33 miles)
- Hacienda Heights (33 miles)
- Hesperia (33 miles)
- West Puente Valley (33 miles)
- Baldwin Park (34 miles)
- Garden Grove (34 miles)
- Laguna Niguel (35 miles)
- San Juan Capistrano (35 miles)
- Temecula (35 miles)
- Buena Park (35 miles)
- La Mirada (35 miles)
- Duarte (36 miles)
- Stanton (36 miles)
- Laguna Beach (36 miles)
- Fountain Valley (36 miles)
- Whittier (37 miles)
- South Whittier (37 miles)
- Costa Mesa (37 miles)
- El Monte (37 miles)
- Monrovia (37 miles)
- Westminster (38 miles)
- Dana Point (38 miles)
- South El Monte (38 miles)
- Cypress (38 miles)
- Newport Beach (38 miles)
- San Clemente (38 miles)
- West Whittier-Los Nietos (39 miles)
- Arcadia (39 miles)
- Cerritos (39 miles)
- Temple City (39 miles)
- Norwalk (39 miles)
- Apple Valley (40 miles)
- Rosemead (40 miles)
- Huntington Beach (40 miles)
- Pico Rivera (40 miles)
- Victorville (41 miles)
- Fallbrook (41 miles)
- Montebello (41 miles)
- Bellflower (42 miles)
- San Gabriel (42 miles)
- Downey (42 miles)
- Monterey Park (42 miles)
- Lakewood (43 miles)
- Alhambra (43 miles)
- Seal Beach (43 miles)
- Bell Gardens (43 miles)
- Adelanto (43 miles)
- Paramount (44 miles)
- South Pasadena (45 miles)
- East Los Angeles (45 miles)
- Pasadena (45 miles)