Hi guys!
I have done so many holiday events around LA, Orange, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and this year I decided to do some around Riverside County. I went to three events that I wanted to share and hopefully you can make it out to one of them in the future!
Mission Inn Festival of Lights – Riverside
@kitkatw0706 Seeing the Mission Inn in Riverside, California all lit up for the Festival of Lights celebration is truly remarkable! It was voted one of the best light displays in the U.S. and is an absolute must see. Happy Holidays!🎄#fyp #riverside #missioninn #missioninnfestivaloflights #missioninnriverside #christmaslights #holidaylights #lightdisplay
According to the Mission Inn website, “the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa’s Festival of Lights is one of the nation’s largest holiday light collections, voted ‘Best Public Lights Display’ by USA Today.” It has more than 4.5 million twinkling lights and has more than 400 animated figures. I have been wanting to see this for quite some time and it is the most decked out light display I have ever seen on a hotel!
The event is free and you have to wait in line to go through the main entrance but it’s worth it! Also, you can’t go inside the hotel during this time as it is for reserved guests only but you can shoot from the outside in. When you’re done, you can walk around Downtown Riverside and see their light displays as well.
I suggest parking south near the Old Spaghetti Factory on Mission Inn Drive. I found parking immediately without having to wait in a long line of cars and it’s only a few blocks from all of the action. It was super packed with people but was worth it!
123 Farm Christmas Nights – Cherry Valley
@kitkatw0706 123 Farm in Cherry Valley, California has a ton of fun activities to do during their Christmas Nights event! From food and a maze to shopping and spotting elves, there’s plenty to do under the hundreds of twinkling lights!🎄🪻#fyp #beaumont #cherryvalley #123farm #123farmchristmasnights #riversidecounty #christmaslights #holidaylights #lightdisplay #lavenderfarm
123 Farm Christmas Nights ($28 for an adult) is a very hyped up holiday event with more than 1 million white lights amongst the trees and lavender fields! It is part of Highland Springs Ranch & Inn in Cherry Valley (Beaumont). There is a ton of fun for the whole family: food, drinks, tractor rides, a maze, large ornament displays, searching for elves in houses, shopping, Santa and a s’mores pit!
The event runs from 5pm – 10pm during the holidays and I highly suggest getting there a little after 4pm to find parking on the street near the entrance. There is General Admission parking for $10 but like I said, if you get there early, you can find great parking on the street and it’s only a short walk. If you go later than 5pm, you will have to park many blocks away.
Holiday Fun in Temecula
@kitkatw0706 Made a quick trip to Temecula Valley today to visit my favorite winery, Wilson Creek, see some holiday lights in Old Town, visit Europa Village Winery and see a residential home! 🥂🎄#fyp #riversidecounty #temecula #temeculavalley #1909restaurant #wilsoncreekwinery #europavillagewinery #oldtowntemecula #southerncalifornia #holidaylights #lightdisplay #rockinaroundthechristmastree
I haven’t been to Temecula since 2012 and I was excited to revisit it again but this time during the holidays! Wilson Creek is my favorite winery in the region (they are known for their Almond Sparkling Wine) and I had to do a tasting.
I then headed over to Old Town Temecula to do some shopping and ate at 1909 Fluid & Fare, where I ordered some Birria Tacos (short rib) and a holiday drink called Santa is Stuck in My Chimney with vodka, chocolate pumpkin liqueur, Kahlua, sweet cream and nutmeg. They were very tasty!
Afterward, I went to Europa Village Winery to see the holiday decorations and then viewed a residential home decked out.
Happy holidays! 🙂
