The Polar Express Train Ride Station - various times Pick
The Polar Express Train Ride Station - various times Pick
Cape Cod Central Railroad Depot - various times Pick
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Grove Hall Branch Boston Public Library - 10:30 AM
Faneuil Hall - 10:00 AM
Egleston Square Branch of the BPL - 10:30 AM
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Lesley Ellis School - 9:00 AM
American Ancestors - 10:00 AM
Faneuil Hall - 10:00 AM
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Boston Children's Museum - 9:00 AM
American Ancestors - 10:00 AM
Faneuil Hall - 10:00 AM
Cape Cod Central Railroad Depot - various times Pick
Conway Scenic Railroad - various times Pick
Granite State Scenic Railway - various times Pick
The Polar Express Train Ride Station - various times Pick
Cape Cod Central Railroad Depot - various times Pick
Central Square Theater presents Liars and Believers' Yellow Bird Chase
Central Square Theater
Activity Guides
- Beaches & Lakes
- Best Of Lists
- Birthday Parties
- Boats
- Boredom Busters
- Camps
- Childcare
- Christmas/Hanukkah
- City Guides
- City Hacks
- Classes & Enrichment
- Community
- Crafts & Recipes
- Earth Kids
- Easter
- Fairs & Festivals
- Fall Activities
- Family Travel
- Farms & U-Pick
- Free Activities
- GoList
- Halloween
- Holidays
- Hotels & Resorts
- Indoor Activities
- Museums
- News & Openings
- Outdoors
- Parent Talk
- Parks & Playgrounds
- Play Gyms & Sports Centers
- Pools & Spray Parks
- Preschools & Schools
- Restaurants
- Shows
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Special Needs
- Special Occasions
- Sports
- Spring Activities
- STEM
- Stores & Services
- Summer Activities
- Theme & Water Parks
- Trains, Dinos & Heroes
- TV, Film & Movies
- Virtual
- Visitors Guide
- Weekend Events
- Weekend Trips
- Winter Activities
- Zoos & Gardens
Mission Inn Festival of Lights
- see all dates
Except November 27, 2025; December 25, 2025.
What could be worth the trip to Riverside? How about one of the nation's largest holiday light collections!
For the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa's annual Festival of Lights, the hotel is bedecked with over 10 million lights and hundreds of full-size animated characters on its walls and balconies, for a festive, dazzling display.
The season gets started with the Grand Switch-On Ceremony on November 22.
Santa Claus visits Thursday through Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. Last day to visit Santa is December 21. Bring your own camera for photos, no professional photography available.
Guests can also take a spin on the Ice Rink at the corner of Mission and Orange. Hours are 5pm to 10pm; skating sessions are 1 hour and cost $20 per skater, including skate rental.
Read our review of visiting the Festival of Lights with kids from a previous year.
