November 16, 2023

Best Holiday Activities in Riverside, CA!

Ever since first hearing the cheery song “Over the River and Through the Woods,” we all likely thought it would be enchanting to ride a sleigh to some exotic, woodsy retreat to celebrate the holidays with our grandparents. The reality for most of us, however, is that we will be visiting family and relatives somewhere in suburbia.

Those living in, or at least planning to spend some time in, Riverside during November and December will probably not have to slip and slide through snow and icy conditions to get around. The Inland Empire boasts pretty nice weather most winters, falling right in line with Southern California’s temperate climate during the holidays.

Riverside and the surrounding area offer a plethora of activities and performances to help you get your holiday groove on this year. Read on for 15 favorite suggestions.

Shopping

Riverside Plaza: Riverside Plaza, located in the heart of Riverside’s Magnolia Center, is the perfect destination for holiday shopping. The plaza offers a unique blend of specialty retailers and restaurants that will immerse your shopping senses. You can find everything from books to groceries, travel accessories to home goods, and family-fun items to quality dining. The plaza also boasts an 18-screen Regal Multiplex Theater, which is perfect for catching up on the latest movie releases after you finish your holiday shopping.

The 50th Annual Golden Candy Caneland and Craft Faire: The Ehlers Event Center is home to this special event, sponsored by the Buena Park Community Services Department. There will be food and craft booths, games, snow slides, and a visit from a jolly, bearded, overly enthusiastic, red outfit-wearing gentleman claiming to come from a northerly pole—if you catch our drift—to hold court with the kids. The event is going down on December 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be sure to check out the popular Holidays Around the World cultural booths as well.

Activities

Baking Class for Kids - Special Holidays: Children are going to need to be entertained during the holidays, and adults could use a little bit of help having lots of treats on hand for visitors or to pass out to neighbors. The Holidays Around the Globe baking class offers solutions for both scenarios. This children’s baking class will help them learn about goodies from around the world. The classes, held at the Ysmael Villegas Community Center in Riverside, run 5–7:30 p.m., December 4–11, so there are plenty of options from which to choose.

Wickerd Farm Christmas Trees: If you’ve ever seen the movie Christmas Vacation, you know what perils possibly await if you attempt to go rogue in your hunt for the perfect family tree. But if you still want a much safer experience of picking out a live fresh tree and bringing it home, then take the family to Wickerd Farm in Menifee. Choose-and-cut Monterey Pines are grown on site, and pre-cut firs are shipped in from Oregon.

Disney’s Festival of Holidays and Merriest Nights: Two celebrations will be ongoing throughout the holidays at the self-proclaimed “Happiest Place on Earth.” Festival of Holidays, which is happening at Disney’s California Adventure Park November 10 through January 7, celebrates multiculturalism. It honors sights and sounds from around the world while recognizing Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. Merriest Nights is ticketed separately at Disneyland and provides access to an after-hours party on six different nights. It includes special attractions and entertainment. Some rides also will remain open for further enjoyment later into the California night.

Performances

Million Dollar Quartet Christmas: The Million Dollar Quartet Christmas is a musical performance that will be held at the Fox Performing Arts Center on December 13 and 14, 2023. The show features the legendary musicians Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley coming together to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. The Sun Records studio—now adorned with a Christmas tree, garland, and mistletoe—rings with the sounds of the season and the chart-toppers that made these four famous. The audience will follow along with the gang’s usual antics as they journey through a story of Christmas past, present, and future. It’s a jam-packed evening of holiday hits and classic characters you won’t want to miss! Get your tickets now.

Disney On Ice: If you’re thinking about making a big pre-Christmas splash at home, then Disney On Ice may provide the perfect opportunity to surprise your family. With five shows over three days (December 21–23), this Disney ice-skating phenomenon affords plenty of flexibility for scheduling. This year’s program will feature on-skate appearances by characters from Disney’s Encanto and Frozen.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Ghosts of Christmas Eve”: Full-scale aural and visual overload is on tap, and likely a few tugs at your heartstrings as well, as Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings its holiday feast of the senses to Toyota Arena in Ontario. Fans can expect all the usual embellishments of lasers, smoke, pyrotechnics, incredible lighting, sincere storytelling, and rocked-up classical music, suitable for the whole family. If you’ve never caught any of the band’s extravagant holiday tours, you owe it to yourselves to give it a try. There will be two shows on December 2: a matinee at 3:00 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30 p.m.

Opportunities to Share

Holiday of Hope: The D’Andre D. Lampkin Foundation is organizing its fifth annual Holiday of Hope Event on December 15 and 16. The event aims to spread cheer to families in need by donating new, unwrapped gifts or volunteering to receive donations or sort toys. There are several opportunities available for volunteers:

Sorting or distributing toys: Small groups of three to five people can volunteer to help sort or distribute toys.
Receiving toy drop-offs: Organizations can volunteer to receive toy drop-offs.

Volunteering is encouraged, and every day, Lampkin Foundation volunteers are finding ways to support grassroots community improvement projects, encourage young leaders, and respond to emergencies across the nation. If you’re interested in volunteering, please visit the Lampkin Foundation’s website for more information.

Volunteer with The Salvation Army: There are plenty of ways to volunteer with the Salvation Army this holiday season. The Salvation Army needs volunteers for Christmas Registration, where volunteers will help families register for Christmas assistance by welcoming them, getting the required information, and entering the data. You can also volunteer as a bell ringer at a Salvation Army Red Kettle stationed outside of grocery stores and businesses valley-wide. Volunteering is a great way to make a difference in your community and help those in need experience the joy of the season.

Safe Celebration

Scented candles are extremely popular during the holidays, but we want to issue a reminder that up to 7,400 fires are started each year because of household candles. Please exert extra caution when lighting candles in your apartment, especially in your bedroom. Consider using battery-powered candles or scented spray instead to address all your aroma needs while avoiding any inherent dangers. And if you do decide to use candles, please don’t leave them unattended.

Live Christmas trees, naturally, can also create another fire hazard. If you’ve brought a real tree into your apartment for the holidays, take every precaution to keep it watered so it doesn’t dry out. Take care to keep all open flames, such as candles, away from the branches, and make sure you turn all lights off when you’re not at home. Stay safe and enjoy the holidays!

Riverside and the surrounding area are packed with holiday cheer. Enjoy the activities, shopping, performances, and opportunities to give back, and stay safe. From all of us who work and represent The James Apartment Homes in Riverside, we wish you a Happy Holidays!

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Improve Your VIP Experience: Flexible Ways to Pay Rent and Build Credit at The James

May 21, 2026

At The James , we are committed to providing our VIPs with the best tools to manage their apartment homes effortlessly. We want to highlight the various ways you can handle your monthly rent, including some exciting benefits that help you build your financial future just by living with us. 1. The AppFolio Resident Portal App The easiest way to manage your living experience is through the AppFolio app. It is a one-stop shop for your most frequent needs: Convenient Payments: Set up one-time or automatic payments using a bank account (e-check), credit card, or debit card. Split Payments with Flex: We have integrated Flex directly into your AppFolio app. This service allows you to split your rent into two payments throughout the month. Flex pays your rent to us in full and on time, while you pay them back on a schedule that fits your cash flow. Full Transparency: View your current balance, previous statements, and full payment history anytime. 2. Build Your Credit for Free with Pinata Your consistent rent payments should work for you. We are proud to offer Free Positive Rent Payment Reporting to major credit bureaus through our partner, Pinata. How it works: You will receive an email invitation from Pinata to sign up for this service. Once you are enrolled, your on-time payments are reported to the credit bureaus. The Benefit: This helps you build your credit score over time without any extra cost. It is our way of rewarding your reliability and helping you reach your long-term financial goals. (Please note: we do not utilize any resident reward or marketplace features through Pinata; this service is strictly for your credit reporting benefit.) 3. More Ways the App Helps You Beyond payments, the AppFolio app remains your primary tool for staying connected with our Riverside community. You can: Submit Maintenance Requests: Easily upload photos and descriptions of any needed repairs. Manage Renter's Insurance: Access your policy or update your provider details. Stay Informed: Contact the office via text or phone, update your contact preferences, and access your lease documents. At The James , we treat every resident like a VIP. Whether you are looking for more flexibility with Flex or looking to boost your credit score through Pinata, we are here to support your lifestyle.