Photos: Riverside’s Festival of Lights kicks off 24th year

The 24th annual Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn in Riverside kicked off on Friday night with 4.5 million twinkling lights being switched on and a huge fireworks show.

Here are photos of the event, which runs nightly through January 7.

Went and saw the Christmas lighting of the mission with my family lastnight. It was beautiful????

A post shared by Captured Love (@capturedlovephoto) on Nov 26, 2016 at 8:07am PST

My office tonight. People fill the streets to watch the fireworks during The 24th annual Festival of Lights Switch on Ceremony at the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa in Riverside Friday, Nov. 25, 2016. #photojournalist #photojournalism #canon1dx #onassignment #riverside #riversidefestivaloflights2016

A post shared by Frank Bellino (@bucky5252) on Nov 25, 2016 at 8:33pm PST

My office tonight. People fill the streets to watch the fireworks during The 24th annual Festival of Lights Switch on Ceremony at the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa in Riverside Friday, Nov. 25, 2016. #photojournalist #photojournalism #canon1dx #onassignment #riverside #riversidefestivaloflights2016#

A post shared by Frank Bellino (@bucky5252) on Nov 25, 2016 at 8:31pm PST

#abc7holiday #abc7eyewitness #riversidefestivaloflights2016 #riverside #California #socality #rainbow #iloveriverside #riversidefol

A post shared by Abi (@abril_r_vill) on Nov 25, 2016 at 9:20pm PST

& we're back! Now that the crowd has left ????#MissionInnFestivalOfLights

A post shared by ???? Stephanie Torres (@mrstorres07) on Nov 25, 2016 at 10:07pm PST

#riversidefestivaloflights2016 #riverside #California #chrismaslights #winterwonderland #abc7eyewitness #abc7holiday #festivaloflightsmissioninn #missioninnhotelspa

A post shared by Abi (@abril_r_vill) on Nov 25, 2016 at 9:12pm PST

Our gingerbread villages are complete! Find them in our lobby! ????????⛪️???? #FestivalOfLightsMissionInn

A post shared by The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa (@missioninnhotel) on Nov 22, 2016 at 11:27am PST

Checking out the Festival of Lights ????❤️ #missioninnriverside #missioninnfestivaloflights #missioninn #christmastime

A post shared by Amy Jordan (@missusjordanxo) on Dec 13, 2015 at 8:42pm PST

Another memorable family fun night in the books! #FestivalOfLights #Riverside #MissionInn @cityofriverside @missioninnhotel @festivaloflightsca @festivaloflightsriverside #MissionInnFestivalOfLights

A post shared by ???? Stephanie Torres (@mrstorres07) on Nov 26, 2016 at 1:23am PST

Here is video of the moment the lights were turned on:

#Riverside #riversidefestivaloflights2016

A post shared by James Salvador (@j.s.hd) on Nov 25, 2016 at 7:41pm PST

Love all the excitement of it all and all the people! ????????????????#holidaytraditions #riversidefol #festivaloflights #missioninn #christmas2016 #blessed #inlandempire #riversideca #riversideca #calistyle #californiadreaming #missioninnfestivaloflights

A post shared by Strange Morning Light©???? (@babadalopez_whosoever) on Nov 25, 2016 at 8:27pm PST

Festival of Lights has officially begun! #MissionInnFestivalOfLights

A post shared by Mission Inn Festival Of Lights (@festivaloflightsca) on Nov 25, 2016 at 5:50pm PST

If you go, the Press Enterprise has a pretty solid list of what you need to know about the event.