San Francisco’s Illuminate SF Festival of Light returns for its fourth year to illuminate the city for the holidays. Inaugurated in 2013, this year’s event brings four times the lighted installations between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Illuminate SF Festival of Light will feature 35 light installations by local and world renowned light artists. The 39-day event includes free artist talks, museum tours, neon light tours, and a stargazing party in the Presidio. Featuring 31 artists across 12 neighborhoods, the artwork comes to life every evening at dusk. Installations will be found in the Embarcdero, North Beach, Civic Center, Central Market, Inner Sunset, SoMa, Potero, Mission Bay, Bayview, Golden Gate Park, Hayes Valley, Mission District and the San Francisco International Airport.
Neon Light Tours and Talk will be held on Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec. 19 and Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.
Museum Saturdays will include docent-led tours of light art within city museums. SFMOMA will host on Dec. 3 and 17; de Young Museum on Dec. 3, 4 and 11; Contemporary Jewish Museum on Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31.
On December 3, join the stargazing party in the Presidio. From 7 to 9:30 p.m., amateur astronomers with telescopes will guide you through the night sky on the Main Parade Ground.
To learn more about the event, locations, times and details on lighted art in San Francisco, visit Illuminate SF.
–Lissa Poirot
Our team of parents and travel experts chooses each product and service we recommend. Anything you purchase through links on our site may earn us a commission.
