Gingerbread Cake
Our namesake. Moist, spiced gingerbread cake piled high with whipped cream.
Mission Inn Festival of Lights • Downtown Riverside
Look for the pink A-frame!
Warm gingerbread cake, fresh cinnamon rolls, apple crisp and our famous over-the-top Cocoa Loco. It's a family holiday tradition, right in the middle of the lights.
Our Story
The Gingerbread Shop is a family-owned holiday treat shop, and we've been part of Riverside's Festival of Lights for many years. Every season we set up our pink A-frame booth on Mission Inn Avenue. Then we fill it with the smell of ginger, cinnamon and hot cocoa.
For a lot of families, walking the lights at the historic Mission Inn means stopping for a gingerbread cake or a giant cocoa mug to warm up. We love being a small part of that tradition, and we love seeing familiar faces come back every year.
Holiday Treats
A taste of what's waiting for you at the booth.
Our signature
Cocoa Loco a la Mode
Our hot cocoa in a Gingerbread Shop mason jar mug, topped with a rim of fudge and mini marshmallows, a mountain of whipped cream, holiday sprinkles and two gingerbread cookies. It's the one everyone takes pictures of!
Cinnamon Rolls
Warm, gooey and smothered in icing. Make it a la mode with a scoop of ice cream.
Apple Crisp
Cinnamon apples under a crunchy crumble topping. A la mode with caramel drizzle is the way to go.
The menu can change from year to year. You'll find this season's full menu and prices posted at the booth.
Visit Us
📍 Where
Mission Inn Festival of Lights
Corner of Main St & Mission Inn Ave
Riverside, CA 92501
Look for the pink A-frame booth along Mission Inn Avenue, with our giant gingerbread man in his green jacket waving from the roof. We're just steps from the Mission Inn Museum.
🎄 When
2026 season: The festival opens with the Switch-On Ceremony on Saturday, November 21, 2026. The lights then run nightly into the new year.
We're open in the evenings during the festival. Plan on about 5 – 10 pm. Hours can change with weather and crowds.
The Mission Inn is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
🚗 Tips for your visit
- Weekends and opening night get very busy. Weeknights are calmer.
- Parking fills up early. Downtown garages and the Metrolink station are good options.
- Bring a jacket. Riverside nights in December get chilly, which makes it perfect cocoa weather.
Questions?
Are you open all year?
No. The Gingerbread Shop is a seasonal shop. We're only open during the Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside.
Can I order online or get delivery?
Not right now. All of our treats are sold in person at the booth. Come see us!
Do you have allergen information?
Our gingerbread cake and gingerbread men contain wheat, soy, eggs and milk. Our hot cocoa contains milk and may contain soy and wheat. Some menu items may contain peanuts or be prepared with peanut products. Everything is prepared in a commercial kitchen that also handles these allergens. If you have allergies, please ask our team at the booth before you order.
What forms of payment do you take?
We accept cash and credit cards.
Are you hiring?
We often hire friendly seasonal staff, like cashiers, for the festival. We post our openings online before each season, so keep an eye out and check back here as the festival gets closer!