Home » **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Art & Museums, Christmas, In Person, New Year's Day, Tree + Holiday Lightings

SF’s “Photosynthesis” Light Show (Conservatory of Flowers)

Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - 5:00 pm to 11:59 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free to watch from outside the building.

San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers | 100 John F. Kennedy Dr., San Francisco, CA

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SF’s Epic “Photosynthesis” Light Show | Conservatory of Flowers

Light up the season with Photosynthesis,

This beautiful light art installation was developed in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and was designed by Lumigeek with music by Tim Digulla. The installation uses special projectors to transform the all-white glasshouse into a series of exquisite scenes inspired by the rare tropical flowers growing within this national landmark.

The light art installation changes twice a year, adapting it’s visuals and music to the spring-summer season and fall-winter season. The winter version of the light show will go live on November 8, 2024.

This public art installation takes place outside the Conservatory of Flowers and is free for visitors of all ages.

The Conservatory’s light show begins approximately 30 minutes after sunset every night, transforming the building into a canvas of colorful light art.

Starting on November 8, 2024, bundle up and spread out a blanket on the lawn in front of the iconic Conservatory of Flowers for an amazing evening of free music and psychedelic visuals in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park every night at sunset. The outside of the Conservatory of Flowers will be illuminated starting 30 minutes after sunset every night and will continue to run on a loop until midnight.

Our beloved flower-powered light show is FREE every night and open to all ages!

Where to Watch

Venture up close to the Conservatory to enjoy the details of the projections or sit back and enjoy a view of the entire building awash with color. The best viewing areas are along JFK Promenade and on the lawns in front of the Conservatory of Flowers, also known as “Conservatory Valley”. Street parking is available along Nancy Pelosi Drive and Bowling Green Drive. For more transportation and parking information for the Conservatory of Flowers, see Getting Here.

Learn more about the Conservatory of Flowershow to get here, and admissions & hours.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE*
*Free to watch from outside the building.
Categories: **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Art & Museums, Christmas, In Person, New Year's Day, Tree + Holiday Lightings
Address: 100 John F. Kennedy Dr., San Francisco, CA

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

7:30 am   Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year’s Day 2025  FREE*
*Free on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and daily from 7:30-9 am
9:00 am   Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*Free from 9-10am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; otherwise non-resident admission is $12 - $16 depending on the season. San Francisco residents are always free with valid ID
10:00 am   SF’s Holiday Ice Skating Session at Union Square (New Year’s Day)  $20*
*Tickets are $20 with skate rental included in the cost of admission
10:30 am   New Year’s Day 2025 World Naked Bike Ride + Polar Plunge (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   SF’s GLBT History Museum: Free First Wednesday  FREE*
*Free tickets are not available for reservation online on free days; all visitors will be welcomed to the museum as long as there is capacity on a first-come, first-served basis.
11:00 am   2025 New Year’s Day “Hatsumode” Japanese Shrine Visit (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   Free Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)  FREE
12:00 pm   New Year’s Day Ice Skating at San Jose’s “Downtown Ice”  $21*
*$21 includes skate rentals
12:00 pm   New Year’s (& Final) Day 2025 at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”  FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
2:00 pm   New Year’s Day Collaborative Huge Art at SF’s Ocean Beach (2024)  FREE*
*donations welcome, not required
2:30 pm   SF’s New Year’s Day 2025 Polar Bear Ice Skate (Union Square)  FREE*
*Free to watch; $25 to skate (Includes Skate Rental)
4:00 pm   Union Square’s 2024 Chanukah Festival: 25-Foot-Tall Menorah: Final Night  FREE
4:30 pm   New Year’s Day at Oakland Zoo’s “Glowfari” 2024 Lights Festival  $26.50*
*Adult admission tickets start at $26.50; The Zoo is using dynamic pricing, so ticket prices will vary based on date and time and purchase date. Buy early. Tickets do sell out in advance.
5:00 pm   2024 Pier 39 New Year’s Day Christmas Tree Lighting Show  FREE
5:00 pm   PIER 39’s Free Tree Lighting Show w/ 60′ Tall Tree (2024-25)  FREE
5:00 pm   PIER 39’s “The Festival of Lights” Hanukkah Celebration (2024-25)  FREE
5:01 pm   SF City Hall Lights Up Gold for New Year’s Day (2025)  FREE
6:00 pm   “Wiener Wednesday” Free Hot Dog Night at Rye (SF)  FREE*
*Every Wednesday, Free Hot Dogs with every Hornitos Cocktail purchase
7:00 pm   “Comedians with Criminal Records” Live in SF (7p + 8:45p)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 50 people. Donations appreciatied
7:00 pm   Black Hammer’s Free “Hopped Up” Trivia Night (Every Wednesday)  FREE
7:00 pm   SF’s Free NEW YEAR’S DAY (Jan 1) Comedy Night + Happy Hour ALL NIGHT (2025)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
7:30 pm   “Wolfman Jeff Trivia” Night at SF’s Willkommen Beer Garden (Every Wednesday)  FREE
8:00 pm   $2 Taco Night + Happy Hour Comedy at Skylark (SF)  FREE*
*RSVP Required. 2 drink minimum. 21+
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