San Francisco’s
Illuminate Festival of Light 2021

San Francisco’s Illuminate Festival of Light 2021

The City by the Bay always dazzles, especially during the holiday season when it is aglow with the annual Illuminate SF™ Festival of Light.

Installation Highlights

San Francisco’s Illuminate Festival of Light  celebrates the power of light with artworks by world-famous artists such as Jenny Holtzer, Joseph Kosuth, Leo Villareal, Hank Willis Thomas, Jim Campbell, Ivan Navarro, and Johanna Grawunder. This year’s event highlights the city’s 41 permanent light artworks and 14 temporary light art installations within the city’s 49 square miles.

Tip – A great way to see a collection of the installations is to take the Light Art Trail. The Trail begins along the Embarcadero at “The Bay Lights,” which is displayed on the north side of the Bay Bridge’s western span.  The Trail ends at a poignant gay installation. “Hope Will Never Be Silent” glows over Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro, commemorating the words of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of California. This installation is designed to honour his life and legacy through the light’s power of attraction, offering a sign of hope to all who visit.

While all are worthy of a visit, here are our top choices not to be missed:

• Psychedelic Photosynthesis
  A colourful illuminated moving projection on the Conservatory of Flowers that harkens back to the Summer of Love in San Francisco. Developed in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the joyous installation compliments the endless parade of rare and unusual flowers on display inside the conservatory.

• Winter Lights by Joshua Hubert
  Located in the woodlands of Golden Gate Park and opening on Dec. 2. Hundreds of individually controlled LED floodlights create dynamic patterns that are programmed to flow across a full acre of the park. The illuminated sculptures are by the park’s 6th Avenue SkatePark.
• Entwined by Charles Gadeken
  An enchanting art installation returns to the festival for another year. The popular exhibit transforms Golden Gate Park’s Peacock meadow into a forest of otherworldly shapes and ever-changing light that allows visitors to explore twisting paths, sit under colourful trees, and admire nature-inspired sculptures that flower with light.

Where to Stay?

• San Francisco is divided into several neighbourhoods, but the primary 2 are The Castro and Soma, with Soma being the area where you will find Folsom Street and most of the leather and fetish bars.
• If you want to be close to all the tourist attractions and stay in some of the best hotels in the city, then we recommend the downtown/union square district 

San Francisco is split into several areas but the main 2 are The Castro and Soma, with Soma being the area the where you will find Folsom Street, and most of the leather and fetish bars. With there being so many gay bars we have had to put 2 maps in.

Here are the hotels we recommend that have good reviews and keep you close to all the action

SOMA,

InterContinental Hotel,     Courtyard by Marriott ,    Palace Hotel,    Hotel Zelos,

CASTRO,

Beck’s Motor Lodge,