Part ten of the 7th " Illuminate SF Festival of Light " - The Bay Lights

For the seventh consecutive year, the "Illuminate SF Festival of Light" arrives as scheduled. From Thanksgiving to New Year, San Francisco will be lit by 40 permanent and temporary light art installations. The Christmas tree and holiday decorations are not the only highlights of this holiday season. We have carefully selected 12 installations to let you experience this wonderful light art journey.

The Bay Lights

Permanent installation

Author: Leo Villarreal (2013),

Location: San Francisco Bay Bridge at the river pier

Source: San Francisco Travel Association

Your road to light art can begin with the "The Bay Lights" at the river pier. The light installation on the north side of the west end of the Bay Bridge is an iconic light sculpture created by the artist Leo Villaril in San Francisco in 2013, and became a permanent installation in 2016. It is 1.8 miles wide and 500 feet high, and consists of 25,000 individually programmed white LED lights for a never-ending, dazzling piece. It was originally installed as a two-year temporary art piece, but the generous donations from private donors and Illuminate made this monumental masterpiece a permanent installation in February 2016. The Bay Lights shines in the bay from dusk to dawn every day. It is a gift to the people of California. What is as fascinating as the light is the story that seems impossible to become a reality: The documentary film "Impossible Light" by Jeremy Ambers tells the dramatic story of how to turn the shining imagination into reality.

Source: San Francisco Travel Association

Best viewing spot: The river terminal area north of the San Francisco Bay Bridge from the ferry building to Pier 33. Views from the Marin beach and hills are also good options.

From the Bay Bridge, continue north along the river pier to the Discovery Museum at Pier 15.