# Christmas lights in Inland Empire for little kids, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 3 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
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## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside** at The Mission Inn and Main Street, 3649 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA 92501. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (city events through Dec 31; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day). Time: 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. Official page: https://riversideca.gov/fol/
- **Nightly holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens** at Victoria Gardens, Chaffey Town Square, 12505 North Mainstreet, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739. When: Nov 6 – Dec 24, 2026. Time: 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. Official page: https://www.shopvictoriagardens.com/holidays2026
- **Candy Land at Albert S. White Park** at Albert S. White Park, 3936 Chestnut St, Riverside, CA 92501. 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. Official page: https://riversideca.gov/fol/default.asp

## Light displays that come back every year

- [Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside](https://littlesweekly.com/inland-empire/events/festival-of-lights-in-downtown-riverside-mission-inn-main-street/): next dates Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027

## More holiday outings in Inland Empire

- [The Nutcracker with kids in Inland Empire](https://littlesweekly.com/inland-empire/nutcracker/index.md): 4 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances.
- [Christmas markets in Inland Empire](https://littlesweekly.com/inland-empire/christmas-markets/index.md): 4 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### 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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).