SeeCalifornia.com

RIVERSIDE, CALIF.–Each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving (which is always on a Thursday,) Duane and Kelly Roberts, owners of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, embark on a mission to celebrate Christmas. As their gift to the public, they flip the switch and turn on millions of lights (now estimated at 5 million!) to bring holiday cheer to the public for free.

It is no small endeavor, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Municipalities throughout Southern California load up buses of residents to see and experience this amazing (free) spectacle–truly a sight to behold! The lights go on nightly through Jan.5, 2020.

Meanwhile at California’s historic missions Christmas is a little less glitzy, though certainly noteworthy.

California Missions Christmas

Here are few 2019 event highlights…

CARMEL: Carmel Mission Concerts Dec.7-23, 2019
Carmel Mission Basilica

FREMONT: Mission San Jose Las Posadas Dec.15-23

LOMPOC: Mission La Purisima Concepcion Founding Day Remembrance & Concert Dec.8

OCEANSIDE: Mission San Luis Rey Tree Lighting, Christmas Carols, Concerts, and Tamales Dec.6-21

SAN DIEGO: Mission San Diego de Alcala Christmas Nativity Weekend Dec.7-8

SAN FRANCISCO: Mission Dolores Basilica Choir Candlelight Concert Dec.16

SAN GABRIEL: San Gabriel Mission Posadas Dec.15-23

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA: Mission San Juan Bautista Concerts and Winter Solstice Nov.30-Dec.21

SAN LUIS OBISPO: Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Holiday Choral Concert Dec.7

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO: Capistrano Lights Dec.7, 2019 – Jan.6, 2020

SANTA BARBARA: Mission Santa Barbara Mission by Candlelight Sip ‘n Stroll Dec.6

SANTA CLARA: Mission Santa Clara  Chanticleer Christmas Dec.19

SOLVANG: Mission Santa Ines Christmas Handbell Concert and
Las Posadas Dec.2-23

SONOMA: Sonoma Mission State Historic Park Christmas at the Park Dec.14

VENTURA: Mission San Buenaventura Advent Tree Lighting and Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec.6-12