The holiday season has arrived, bringing with it a joyful explosion of light displays, animated projections, illuminated gardens and shimmering Christmas trees. Across the San Francisco Bay Area, creative and imaginative installations are lighting up the night, wrapping our communities in the magic of the season.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite holiday illuminations in the Bay Area this season:
Let’s Glow SF
America’s largest holiday projection arts festival returns to downtown San Francisco for its 5th edition this December, celebrating the season with 10 nights of light, animation, and music crafted by artists from the Bay Area and across the globe. Experience breathtaking animated projections illuminating eight iconic buildings across the city’s core, transforming them into colossal, colorful canvases featuring work by 19 artists from around the globe.
Several French Artists will be featured in this year’s festival : take a look at the work of Les Ateliers BK, Leslie Epsztein, Bruno Ribeiro, as well as the creative lab Spectre.
Let’s Glow SF 2025 will kick off on December 5 at 6pm, at Harry Bridges Plaza, in front of the Ferry Building, with a Countdown To Glow that is free and open to the public. Starting at 6pm, come enjoy pre-show festivities, including a special chorus performance by the Glide Ensemble presented by Gap Inc (from 6PM – 6:25PM), and free hot chocolate by Sunset Roasters and Marley’s Treats (while supplies last).
📅 From December 5 to 14, 5:30-10 p.m.
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Lightscape 2025 at the Botanical Garden
Don’t miss the breathtaking mile-long trail of light and color that will take over San Francisco Botanical Garden until January 4.
This one-of-a-kind, immersive light and music experience will transform the Botanical Garden into a mesmerizing world of wonder, food and beverages, and more than one million twinkling lights. Stroll through a mile-long trail of dazzling lights, dramatic colors, otherworldly lighted sculptures, and water features – right in the heart of San Francisco.
Gather with family and friends, grab a hot chocolate, and experience the wonders of San Francisco Botanical Garden’s winter landscape through a kaleidoscope of color!
📅 Now through January 4
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Pier for the Holidays at Pier39
The Holiday season comes alive at PIER 39 with twinkling lights, decorations throughout The PIER, holiday photo opportunities and a majestic 60’ Live Christmas Tree in Entrance Plaza. From December 5th – January 11th, the tree will “come to life” and perform every half hour from 5-10pm. Synchronized to holiday music, the tree becomes a kaleidoscope of swirling color, adorned with thousands of specialty lights and ornaments.
📅 Now through January 11, 2025.
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Oakland Zoo Glowfari: A Wildly Illuminating Lantern Festival
This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of all new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to conservation.
This year’s experience includes new themes: explore the future of Oakland, learn about coexisting with wildlife, swim through the reef to see colorful underwater creatures, go on a safari through the savanna to spot iconic African animals, meet some interesting bugs that are all around us, and end the night by taking the train through the reptile world.
📅 From November 7 to January 25, 4:30-9pm.
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Holidays at Filoli
Holidays at Filoli transforms the historic estate into a wonderland of breathtaking beauty and festive delight.
Day and night, there’s something magical for everyone at Filoli. During the day, take a Gilded journey through the elegantly decorated House and Garden and explore Thistlewyck, an enchanting village in the Redwoods with Rose Wonders, Filoli’s brand new Troll, at the heart of it all. At night, immerse yourself in the glowing wonder of Holiday Lights.
📅 From November 22, 2024 to January 11, 2026.
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Fantasy of Lights in Santa Clara
First presented in 1999, Fantasy of Lights is a spectacular 1.5 mile Drive-Thru extravaganza of holiday lights and displays for the entire family. It is now in its 27th year and has become a cherished holiday tradition. It is bigger, better and brighter than ever before thanks to the transition to environmentally friendly LED displays. Enjoy a magical evening in the warmth of your vehicle as you drive through large animated displays while listening to holiday music on your car radio.
📅 From December 9 to 30. (closed on Dec 25th)
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Happy Holidays!
