Lights 2026 · Inland Empire

Christmas lights in Inland Empire for little kids, picked for early bedtimes.

Three Christmas light displays in and around Inland Empire have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. Two are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 7:30 p.m. at Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens. They’re in Riverside and Rancho Cucamonga.

3displays with dates
0drive-thrus
2free
7:30 pmearliest evening start

Last checked · How we choose

All 3 displays

Pick tonight’s lights

Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.

Walk-through

Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside

The Mission Inn and Main Street · 3649 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA 92501

Walk-throughFree
When
Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (city events through Dec 31; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
Earliest start
Evenings
Price
Free to walk
  • The switch-on ceremony is Saturday, Nov 21 at 5pm at Orange Street and Mission Inn Avenue, with fireworks after
  • Arrive by 4:30

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 29 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens

Victoria Gardens, Chaffey Town Square · 12505 North Mainstreet, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739

Walk-throughFree
When
Nov 6 – Dec 24, 2026
Earliest start
Mon–Sat 6:30 and 7:30pm; Sun 5:30 and 6:30pm
Price
Free
  • A short light-and-music show on the 45-foot tree in Town Square
  • It's an easy after-dinner stop, and the Dickens carolers stroll on weekends from Nov 27 to Dec 20

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 29 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Candy Land at Albert S. White Park

Albert S. White Park · 3936 Chestnut St, Riverside, CA 92501

Walk-through
When
Nov 27 – Dec 27, 2026, Thursday–Sunday
Price
$15 Thu, Fri and Sun; $20 Sat and Dec 18–27; ages 2 and under free
  • New this year: a holiday light maze, a lit photo trail and a Snowball Arena with soft snowballs, part of Riverside’s Festival of Lights
Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 29 on the official page

Report a problem
Nov 1 – Jan 3

When each one is open

Nothing is lit yet. Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens opens first, on Nov 6. Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside runs into the new year.

Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens Nov 6 – Dec 24
Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside Nov 21 – Jan 3
Candy Land at Albert S. White Park Nov 27 – Dec 27
Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1
Early bedtime plan

Lights before bedtime

In early December the sun sets around 4:40 p.m. in Inland Empire (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.

Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens

7:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour

Mon–Sat 6:30 and 7:30pm; Sun 5:30 and 6:30pm

Drive-thru or walk-through?

Which is better for little kids?

🚗 Stay in the car

  • Babies and toddlers stay warm and buckled, PJs and all
  • No stroller, no mitten battles, no lost hats
  • A car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime
  • Check the listing for timed slots and refund rules

No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.

🚶 Get out and walk

  • Kids 3 and up love running ahead to the next display
  • Bring the stroller where the venue allows it (see each card)
  • Plan a snack stop and a bathroom break
  • Check sensory notes for bright lights and crowds

Picks: Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside, Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens, Candy Land at Albert S. White Park

Bring along

The little-kid lights kit

Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.
PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.
2026 prices

Prices at a glance

From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.

DisplayPriceLittle kidsGood to know
Festival of Lights in downtown RiversideFree to walkSee the venueWalk-through
Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria GardensFreeSee the venueWalk-through
Candy Land at Albert S. White Park$15 Thu, Fri and Sun; $20 Sat and Dec 18–27; ages 2 and under freeages 2 and under freeWalk-through
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Good questions

Christmas lights in Inland Empire: questions parents ask

Are there free Christmas lights in Inland Empire?

Yes. Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside and Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens are free in 2026.

What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Inland Empire?

Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Candy Land at Albert S. White Park ($15 Thu, Fri and Sun; $20 Sat and Dec 18–27; ages 2 and under free). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.

Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?

We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.

What time do the Christmas lights start in Inland Empire? We have an early bedtime.

The earliest evening starts: Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens at 7:30 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.

Which light shows are best for kids under 3?

Little ones get in free at Candy Land at Albert S. White Park (ages 2 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.

How do you check these Christmas lights listings?

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.

Keep planning: This week in Inland Empire · Inland Empire city guide · Visiting Inland Empire

Get the weekend plan, holiday dates included.

One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in Inland Empire that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.

Every year

Light displays that come back every year

Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted.

Festival of Lights in downtown RiversideNext: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027

By month

More dates for little kids in Inland Empire

Things to do with kids in Inland Empire in November · Things to do with kids in Inland Empire in December