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'Festival Of Lights' Kicks Off Holiday Season In Downtown Riverside

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — Downtown Riverside lit up the night Friday.

The 21st annual Riverside Festival of Lights included a fireworks show, live musical performances and a lighting ceremony featuring four million twinkling lights in and around the historic Mission Inn, a visiting place for U.S. presidents and dignitaries over the decades.

"I thought it was just a light show, I didn't realize it was fireworks and music and all sort of things," said John Grounds, who brought his children to the event. "I was just going to be happy with just the lights alone."

The lights came on at 5:30 p.m. and fireworks were launched from 14 different positions.

CBS Radio partner station K-FROG provided the music.

Concerns about the day's earlier wet weather seemed like a distant memory.

"I thought they weren't going to have it today because of the showers and everything else, but I was going to come either way," said one visitor.

"Whenever we can we come down," visitor Karin Starr said. "It's beautiful, lots of lights, lots of decorations, it's really nice. The kids love it."

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