By SALVADOR BARERRA and MIA ARANDA

The holiday season encourages people to embrace a festive spirit and produce joyful memories with family and friends. Although snow isn’t a common occurrence in the Inland Empire, one can still surround themselves with the sights of the season with many festive light displays to see in Southern California.

Riverside Festival of Lights

The Riverside Festival of Lights features a decorated Mission Inn as well as other light displays and decorations on Main Street.

It is free and the lights will take place up until Jan. 6.

For more information, visit https://www.missioninn.com/experiences/events/festival-of-lights

Greenspot Farms Lighted Hayride

Up until Christmas, Greenspot Farms in Mentone hosts a Lighted Hayride every night from 5 to 8 p.m. The Lighted Hayride allows visitors to sit comfortably on a cart, in which a tractor drags it through a decorated lighted path on the farm.

Decorations found on the Lighted Hayride path in Mentone on Dec. 7. The hayride lasts approximately ten minutes. (MIA ARANDA/ Ethic News photos)

Tickets are as follows: $15 for adults, $10 for children and no cost for children under three years of age. 

For more information, visit https://www.greenspotfarms.com/christmas-hayride

Wildlights at The Living Desert

The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert features many life-sized animal decorations and festive lights following the zoo’s closing at 5 p.m. One of the greatest attractions is the luminescent lantern tunnel that is in sync to holiday music. Food and beverages are also available for purchase. 

The Wildlights take place from Dec. 17 to 24 and Dec. 25 to 30 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Tickets are $16 for general admission and $12 for children. 

For more information, visit https://www.livingdesert.org/events/upcoming-zoo-events/wildlights/

Thoroughbred Christmas Lights

Thoroughbred Lane, a neighborhood in Rancho Cucamonga, attracts visitors in their cars every December with their Christmas light displays.

A house on Thoroughbred Lane in Rancho Cucamonga has Star Wars themed decorations on Dec. 7. Thoroughbred Lane also features others houses with themed decorations, such as “Frozen,” “Toy Story,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and more. (MIA ARANDA/ Ethic News photo)

There is no cost to see the lights. The drive-thru takes place from Dec. 10 to Dec. 24 from 5 to 11 p.m. 

Given the popularity of the light displays, the line to drive through can become quite long, therefore it is recommended to get there early. 

For more information, visit https://www.cityofrc.us/holidaylights

Dana Point Holidays at the Harbor

Dana Point has lots of Christmas spirit to offer that range from holiday lights, live music, boat rides with Santa and boat parade of lights.

Live music will be Dec. 9, 16, 23 from 4 to 7 p.m.

For more information, visit https://danapointharbor.com/holidays-at-the-harbor/

Christmas at Little Tokyo

Little Tokyo is a nice calm little shopping center in Los Angeles.

There are a lot of shops that offer a variety of commodities as well as amazing food

They have a vast amount of Christmas lights and have a huge Christmas tree, as well as karaoke.
For more information, visit http://www.golittletokyo.com/holidays/