RivCo Tour O'Lights: 6 Holiday Homes To See

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The holiday light displays created by residents in Riverside County aren't to be outdone this holiday season.

As part of Patch's annual Holiday Tour O' Lights, we've rounded up a few of the submissions we've received so far from Inland Empire locals. From a lighted tour through a winter wonderland and a nativity scene to a massive village of hand-carved figures, there's no shortage of creativity in this year's displays.

For many families, building elaborate light displays has become a tradition spanning decades. Others create their light pieces in tribute to loved ones who have passed.

Here are a handful of displays to check out before the end of the year:

Twinkles Of Love And Memory: 39588 Saba Ct. in Murrieta

This year, holiday decorating became more than an effort to craft a twinkling winter wonderland for passersby. With an emphasis on blues and purples, a Murrieta resident dedicated their light display to honor their mother, who recently passed away, and their father, whose health is in decline.

The lights at 39588 Saba Ct. in Murrieta went on the day after Thanksgiving and each night, stay illuminated between 5:30 and 10 p.m.

"I added purple and blue lights together for my parents," the resident told Patch.

The front lawn and pathways at Saba Court are alive with holiday and Disney characters, gathered together for a jovial display of Christmas cheer.

There's also an interactive element — a game hide and seek. A sign out front challenges you to find Ella, Elli, Gino and Gina, which are hiding in different places each day.

Snowy Winter Village Tour: 44811 Shale Cir, Temecula

The Smith Family has lit their home every Christmas season for the past 20 years. Their spectacular walk-through display — which is synched to music — has been featured on national television three times, the family told Patch.

On the walk-through path, snow falls every five minutes as visitors make their way from Snowman Mountain to a reindeer farm.

"You make your entrance through Snowman Mountain and visit: Candyland, the Winter Village, Santa’s Workshop, Elf Town and the reindeer farm," the family said.

The display is available through Dec. 31. Lights are on Thursday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.; Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve until midnight.

Walk Through Nativity - 43125 Corte Almonte, Temecula

Visit the Tapley family's home if you're in the mood for another illuminated walk-through. Traverse over a sparkling river and under a tunnel of lights.

Along the way, visitors can read poems and see decorations depicting the birth of Jesus Christ, according to Mike Tapley. You may also spot Snoopy and a few other Peanuts.

The Wooden Village Of A Blue Christmas: 32801 Rovato St.

For Shawn Wilkinson, his custom-made holiday wood village, which is displayed in an open garage each Christmas season, just keeps on evolving. As for the rest of the home, the Wilkinsons have doused it entirely in holiday lights each year. Passersby will see a home enveloped in blue this season.

"We have been decorating like this for over a decade and have become a Christmas tradition for many people who look forward to bringing their families by year after year," he told Patch.

Wilkinson says he hopes to draw as many people as possible this year to pay a visit to his festive home.

"We have custom-made wood figures that I make new every year so we have a new theme every year, and we have a HUGE village display that goes from one side of the garage to the other," he said.

Classic Christmas: 33250 Camino Rubano, Temecula

Susan and Mark Brosnan submitted photos of their spectacular display titled Classic Christmas for Patch's 2024 Holiday Tour O'Lights.

Light-seekers can find the twinkling Temecula home at 33250 Camino Rubano, where dozens of holiday characters — from Frosty the Snowman to the Grinch — are on display.

Visitors will also spot Jack Skellington, the Peanut Gallery, Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and more. Susan told Patch that theres's also a singing snowman, musical bells, a gingerbread land and a life-sized Santa.

The light display runs each night from 5 to 10 p.m.

Temecula's North Pole - 33149 Janda Ct., Temecula

David Skalka says this year, his family's home will take you on a trip to the North Pole right in Temecula.

"Our light show will convince you that it’s snowing while our inflatable display will take you to the North Pole!" Skalka told Patch, adding "If you love cats and dogs, this one is for you, too."