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Merry & Bright: San Francisco’s Best Holiday Lights!

Holiday light display on SF City Hall
  • Cassidy Wallerstein

It wouldn’t be the holidays without lots of bright twinkling lights blanketing the city. Thanks to Hetch Hetchy Power and CleanPowerSF, the SFPUC is powering many of your favorite holiday light displays across San Francisco with clean energy. As you celebrate the holidays with friends and family, be sure to check out a few of our favorite displays. And share with us your favorite displays, too! 

Market Street Lights 
When the snowflake lights go up on Market Street, it is officially the holiday season. The beautiful lights are illuminating Market Street between Spear Street and Eighth Street and are powered by 100% clean energy from Hetch Hetchy Power!  

snowflake styled lights hanging along Market Street
Snowflakes along Market Street

Christmas Cable Cars 
Hear the cable car bells ring (ring-a-ling ding-dong-ding!), come on its lovely weather for a cable car ride together this holiday season! San Francisco’s iconic cable cars are decked out and ready for the holiday season. You can ride easy over the hills of San Francisco knowing the cable cars are energized by  Hetch Hetchy Power. 

cable car with holiday decorations
Photo courtesy of SFMTA

Let’s Glow SF 
The community benefit district, Downtown SF, is bringing Let’s Glow SF to the Financial District this holiday season. Let’s Glow SF is a visual art installation that projects virtual images from local and international artists onto downtown buildings. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and watch the five-minute winter themed shows on One Bush Plaza, 345 Montgomery, Pacific Stock Exchange building, and the Hyatt Regency.  

bright, winter ice themed image projected onto front of building
Let's Glow SF

Ghirardelli Square 
Academy of Art University students designed 11 trees to be displayed for the Annual Holiday Tree Stroll at Girardhelli Square. Enjoy a beautiful view of the bay while you are there!

dusk at Ghirardelli Square, a multi-level, outdoor shopping mall
Photo courtesy of Ghirardelli Square

Golden Gate Park 
Pay a visit to Uncle John’s Tree, a San Francisco tradition dating back to 1929, and continue your stroll through Golden Gate Park. Experience an immersive outdoor wonderland of light, illuminated paths, interactive exhibits and live music on JFK drive and Music Concourse, all powered by 100% clean Hetch Hetchy Power! 

many strings of lights on a very large tree
Photo courtesy of San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department 

Bells on Third Street 
Every holiday season, the Bayview gets in the holiday spirit with bell lights brightening up Third Street. You can experience this special annual installation on Third Street, between Evans and Jamestown Avenues. The extra special décor is also powered by Hetch Hetchy Power!

large bell shaped light on top of street sign
Holiday Bells on 3rd Street

Leland Avenue Snowflakes 
If you are near Visitacion Valley, grab a hot chocolate and put a little holiday pep in your step with the snowflake lights up and down Leland Avenue between Bayshore Avenue and Rutland Street.  

snowflake styled lights hanging along Leland Street
Snowflakes in Visitacion Valley

An Illuminated Winter Wonderland 
This winter, Golden Gate Park’s Peacock Meadow will again transform into an enchanted forest of shapes, colors, and light.  

“Entwined,” by San Francisco artist Charles Gadeken, creates a whimsical wonderland where visitors can explore twisting paths, colorful trees, large flowering clusters, and constantly changing vistas of light. Inspired by nature, this interactive art installation is energized by Hetch Hetchy Power and will enchant visitors of all ages through February 1, 2022.  

lifesize art display of a forest made with lights
Photo courtesy of San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department

City Hall 
This month, City Hall will light up with holiday spirit to celebrate all of the December holidays, including Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s. Civic Center Plaza also features a beautiful Christmas tree, and holiday lights to enjoy.

a decorated Christmas tree in front of City Hall
Photo courtesy of San Francisco Civic Center

Salesforce Transit Center Holiday Lights 
Have you been to the Salesforce Transit Center’s rooftop park? Now you might have more reason to, as the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) in coordination with the East Cut Community Benefit District recently unveiled a holiday light display atop the park. Check out the lights along with the free, festive activities they are hosting throughout December. Fun fact: Salesforce Transit Center is powered by Hetch Hetchy Power!  

people sitting at tables in a outdoor plaza
Photo courtesy of Salesforce Transit Center

Looking for more? Check out this map of holiday lights around SF neighborhoods by “The 415 Guy.”

Cassidy Wallerstein