Lila Bloom LIVE at the Festival of Lights December 14, 2009

Go back in time on Main Street Riverside at the 17th Annual Festival of Lights
The new and improved Main Street Riverside is set to be the stage for the 17th Annual Festival of Lights and it’s never looked so good.

Three years ago a public outreach campaign was launched to design a comprehensive rehabilitation of the downtown mall to include new landscaping, sewer drains and electrical service. Now, after less than two years of construction, the recently named Main Street Riverside will be completed just in time for you to experience the most dazzling holiday spectacle south of the North Pole - the Riverside Festival of Lights.

The Festival offers five weeks of holiday merriment in Downtown Riverside, celebrating the season with family activities that include the “Switch-On Ceremony,” holiday decorations and lights on The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, Mission Inn Avenue and on City-owned buildings, Inland Empire’s first outdoor ice skating rink, holiday-themed vendors, entertainment and of course, Santa Claus.

It all begins with the flip of a switch on November 27 at 6:15 p.m. at the “Switch-On Ceremony” presented by Duane and Kelly Roberts, owners of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. In one swift move Riverside’s downtown is instantly illuminated with more than three and a half million twinkling lights and spectacular fireworks! The Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce and the Festival of Lights Committee, consisting of community volunteers and local businesses, put in many long hours to coordinate the Ceremony.

The magic continues for festivalgoers as they glide under the stars on an outdoor ice skating rink, located on Main Street Riverside between University and Mission Inn Avenues. Ice rink hours from November 27 to December 19 are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Starting December 20, the ice rink hours will be noon to 11 p.m. everyday. Visitors can enjoy an hour on the ice for $13, which includes ticket price and skate rental. Additionally, skating enthusiasts can purchase a Frequent Skater Card for only $50 which will be good for one skate hour Sunday through Thursday for the entire month of December. The card will be available for purchase at the ice rink ticket booth and at City Hall on the 5th Floor.

In addition to the lights and ice skating, holiday enthusiasts can be dazzled by more than 200 hours of holiday entertainment, unique shopping and creative dining along Main Street Riverside. And no holiday experience would be complete without a visit from the North Pole’s most famous resident. Santa Claus will be out every night from November 27 to December 24. Photos with Santa Claus will be available for purchase.

The Riverside Festival of Lights allows everyone - no matter what age - to be charged with wonder and anticipation of the magic of the holidays. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this wonderful Riverside tradition.

For more information visit www.RiversideFestivalofLights.com.

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