Pictured is the Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa holiday lighting attraction, to be unveiled on Nov. 25, 2011.

Have you noticed the silence this year? The merchants and department stores typically trying to hawk their wares in July as pre-Christmas deals, aren’t singing that jingle cash song–not yet. But what IS happening includes a whole lot of Santa’s elves who are busy planning their holidays events, boat cruises, vacations, and lighting displays. One of the most opulent displays each year can be found in Riverside, California in an event called the Festival of Lights.

At the prominent downtown attraction, the Mission Inn, proprietors plan their annual landmark lighting display months ahead of the November unveiling, when overnight packages (festivaloflightsca.com) to this destination are featured attractions to compliment the holiday lights viewing. To say that this hotel “trips the lights fantastic” is an understatement!

The 19th Annual Riverside Festival of Lights is held Nov. 25, 2011 – Jan 8, 2012 and includes dazzling lights that line Main Street and the Mission Inn, providing a great holiday spirit pick-me-up.

It all begins with festive activities at 3 p.m. and the flip of a switch on Friday, November 25th, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. during the Switch-On Ceremony presented by Duane and Kelly Roberts, owners of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. 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.

In addition to the lights, there will be holiday ice skating and more than 225 hours of live holiday entertainment along Main Street Riverside.- riversideca.gov/fol/