A bright spot in the holidays
Festival of Lights, Riverside The festival at the Mission Inn features an undulating block of 5 million lights and 200 animated figures that electrify the vintage Spanish Mission-style hotel.
The display shines for six weeks, starting Friday and continuing through Jan. 6. Info: 3649 Mission Ave., Riverside; www.missioninn.com Caroling Cruises, Ventura You can go holiday lightseeing on a boat through the Ventura Keys, a marina area in the coastal town.
Take a one-hour caroling cruise starting at 6:30 p.m. on select December dates. $16 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger.
The Ventura Parade of Lights sailings on Dec. 15 and 16 include boat parade viewing and fireworks. $35 for adults, $25 for children. Info: islandpackers.com Christmas Boat Parade, Newport Beach The 109th parade brings out canoes and kayaks as well as yachts decked with lights, wreaths and Santas.
Watch for free anywhere along the 14-mile course, including Balboa Island, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13-19. Info: www.christmasboatparade.com Holidays at Legoland California, Carlsbad All hail the towering 30-foot Christmas tree made of 245,000 green Duplo bricks. The tree is decorated with 11,000 LED lights and 400 Lego-built ornaments. Heartlake City will have a bluegrass band playing holiday tunes, and a new Winter Holiday Market will sell holiday breads, grilled sausages and Bavarian pretzels. The season runs now through Jan. 9. Tickets start at $75 for those who buy before Dec. 11. Info: www.legoland.com Global Winter Wonderland, San Diego In San Diego for the first time, this event offers a twist on holiday lights. Weeks before it opens, Chinese artists arrive to create handsewn giant lanterns in the shapes of landmarks (think Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal) and festive villages. Acrobatics, carnival rides, games, food and shopping also are featured.
The event, which debuts Sunday, continues through Jan. 7. $18 for adults, $16 for children ages 4 to 12. Info: SDCCU Stadium, 449 Friars Road, San Diego; lat.ms/sdwonderland