COMMUNITY: The annual Festival of Lights attracts local and national attention.
By Matthew Saenz, Staff Writer
The holiday season is a time for family, company, and, for students, an extended recess from school. One local event brings these people together—the Festival of Lights.
The Festival of Lights is an annual event held in downtown Riverside that usually begins on the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving. This year, it is slated to run from November 28, 2014, to January 6, 2015. A Riverside tradition, the Festival was started by Mission Inn property owners Duane and Kelly Roberts in 1992 as a “gift to the community,” according to their website.
This year, the festivities commenced with the “Switch-On Ceremony,” in which more than 3.5 million lights “instantly illuminated Riverside’s downtown.” The Festival featured Immediately numerous street vendors, live entertainment, Santa Claus and the Inland Empire’s first outdoor ice-skating rink. According to Cindy Roth, the President of the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce, the event also featured free tours conducted by the Fox Performing Arts Center.
This event has garnered more support with each consecutive year and has drawn people from afar to witness its sights. Susan Chae, a resident of Ohio, traveled to California with relatives and visited the Festival of Lights last year. “I was blown away by the display. I really enjoyed the family atmosphere, and it was apparent that they worked hard to make it a reality,” she explained. Her favorite aspect was the trademark of the event: the lights. “The things they could do with the lights—it’s something I haven’t seen before,” she said.
These sentiments were shared by People magazine, who rated this event the second best holiday lighting event in the nation, placing it alongside the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree event in New York City. Additionally, it has been featured by ABC’s Good Morning America.
The Festival not only appeals to people outside of the Inland Empire, but to locals as well. There will be a boost in sales for businesses all across the area, as an estimated half a million people are expected to pass through to partake in festivities. “Whether it is walking around, greeting friends or trying the dining and shopping opportunities, there is something for everyone,” Roth said. Judy Carpenter, a native of Riverside, finds the event to be one of the highlights of her year. “It’s something that is incredibly enjoyable to attend, and I look forward to the new activities every year,” Carpenter said. Roth also expressed the importance of the event and its meaning to her, stating, “All you need to do is watch the holiday magic come to life as a child watches the light and animated characters around the Inn.” Furthermore, she expressed that the event was a prime example of the “spirit” of the holidays.
For the citizens of Riverside and beyond, the Festival of Lights provides a unique experience that can be enjoyed by everyone.