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SF’s Giant 4.1 Mile Colorful Lasers Returns for APEC (Nov. 13-16)

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Illuminate and Civic Joy Fund Partner to Beam Lasers Across San Francisco during APEC Week as a Gift from the People of San Francisco

Major artwork will proceed despite late funding cut

Arts nonprofit Illuminate, in partnership with the Civic Joy Fund, will activate Market Street with a never-before-seen array of 12 giant laser beams from November 13 to 16, 2023, celebrating the vitality of San Francisco and signifying the unity of cooperating nations.

SF’s Giant Laser Pastel Rainbow
November 13-16, 2023, Sunset to Sunrise
Ferry Building to Twin Peaks
FREE to watch

The lights will turn off Friday morning (Nov. 17) at sunrise

As world leaders from 21 countries–including U.S. President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China–visit San Francisco, the monumental art installation called “Illuminate San Francisco” will emit a nightly canopy of light and joy above Market Street – the City’s civic spine.

Back in June 2022, Illuminate lit up Market Street with 6 giant lasers for a 4-mile long laser rainbow flag. This year’s lasers use double the laser power as last year plus the rainbow is now pastel colors.

This time, though, it gets dark a lot earlier in mid-November than in late June, ensuring more people can see it.

Emanating from Harry Bridges Plaza in front of the Ferry Building and beaming at a 3-degree angle over Market Street, just clearing the top of Twin Peaks, “Illuminate San Francisco” will create a city-wide activation.

The installation will run from sunset to sunrise, starting Monday (Nov. 13) evening and concluding on Friday morning (Nov. 17).

Due to increasing security costs, APEC planners were forced to cut funding for the planned laser installation. However, Illuminate decided to proceed independently and has launched a last-minute crowdfunding effort to cover the $150,000 cost of bringing this four-night spectacle to the City–and the world beyond.

Illuminate is a San Francisco-based arts nonprofit that created The Bay Lights project and many other large-scale public art installations across San Francisco, including The Golden Mile in Golden Gate Park.

The Civic Joy Fund, also based in San Francisco, was launched earlier this year to restore vibrancy in the city and to stimulate economic recovery.