December in Riverside

Founded in 1870 by John North and a group of Easterners who wished to establish a colony dedicated to furthering education and culture, Riverside was built on land that was once a Spanish rancho. Investors from England and Canada transplanted traditions and activities adopted by prosperous citizens: the first golf course and polo field in Southern California were built in Riverside.

The first orange trees were planted in 1871, but the citrus industry in Riverside began two years later when Eliza Tibbets received two Brazilian navel orange trees sent to her by a friend at the Department of Agriculture in Washington. The trees thrived in the Southern California climate and the navel orange industry grew rapidly.

Within a few years, the successful cultivation of the newly discovered navel orange led to a California Gold Rush of a different kind: the establishment of the citrus industry. By 1882, there were more than half a million citrus trees in California, almost half of which were in Riverside. The development of refrigerated railroad cars and innovative irrigation systems established Riverside as the wealthiest city per capita by 1895. The Mission Inn became a favorite of presidents, royalty and movie stars who would travel from Hollywood to Riverside for the Christmas Season. Ronald and Nancy Reagan honeymooned in the Mission Inn, and Richard and Pat Nixon were married on its grounds. Teddy Roosevelt planted a tree in its courtyard, and a special chair, built for President William Howard Taft when he visited, is still in the Inn's collection. You can still visit the gazebos that line the railroad where the townsfolk would gather and hand out fresh juicy oranges to the passengers as they got off the train.

In 2008 The Mission Inn underwent a 15 million dollar renovation, and the Festival of Lights was revamped. November 25th the downtown plaza explodes with Christmas: an outdoor ice skating rink, the "worlds best hot cocoa", gingerbread, real reindeer, Santa, live music, huge lush oranges, and . . . wait for it . . . real live "Cinderella horse-drawn carriages", and yes, they even give you a "real" glass slipper to wear. It's a 3-year old girls dream, and you can enjoy it all donning only a light jacket.

December in Riverside is full of daily discoveries of a city that delights in Christmas. Consider this an invitation to join us here next year!