SF’s Lighted Forest Returns to Golden Gate Park on Dec. 2

San Francisco’s popular illuminated forest, Entwined, returns to Golden Gate Park’s Peacock Meadow, from December 2, 2021 through February 1, 2022.

During the pandemic, this dazzling forest of lights entranced park goers and quickly became a popular evening destination for Bay Area residents and visitors alike. In the returning year of this installation, attendees can look forward to an augmented immersive experience.

Its creator, Charles Gadeken, champions accessibility to art and engagement with artistic experiences throughout all of his work. As such, the overall composition has evolved to include two large trees standing at 15 to 20 feet tall, 10 new medium-sized trees ranging from 8 to 14 feet in height, and 40 new ‘flower clusters’ of varying sizes.

The new variety will create a more robust experience for visitors looking to explore the glowing fantasy land. QR codes will also be incorporated into various elements of the installation, allowing the public to create custom lighting patterns, alongside peepholes in tree knots that will reveal hidden secrets for curious adventurers. The incorporated technology includes 150 lighting patterns with hundreds of variations, for 2-3 hours of original playtime.

An exciting new audio system within some of the structures will also allow for low-level ambient music, providing the ultimate connection between art, nature, and the mind. The installation is meant as an invitation to play and interact with the environment while engaging visitors of all ages. Entwined also lights the way for park visitors to continue a nighttime exploration along Car Free JFK with visits to the City’s official holiday tree at McLaren Lodge, the Conservatory of Flowers dazzling light projections, and the SkyStar Observation Wheel and illuminated Bandshell in the Music Concourse.