Lightscape San Francisco Tickets – Family Holiday Lights
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San Francisco Botanical Garden

A BREATHTAKING MILE-LONG TRAIL OF LIGHT AND COLOR The journey has ended. Thank you for experiencing Lightscape with us. See Available CitiesPowered by f
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Lightscape in San Francisco

This one-of-a-kind, immersive light and music experience will transform the Botanical Garden into a mesmerizing world of wonder, food and beverages, and more than one million twinkling lights. Stroll through a mile-long trail of dazzling lights, dramatic colors, otherworldly lighted sculptures, and water features – right in the heart of San Francisco.

Gather with family and friends, grab a hot chocolate, and experience the wonders of San Francisco Botanical Garden’s winter landscape through a kaleidoscope of color!

THE EXPERIENCE

PRACTICAL INFO

  • Date:
    Now through January 4
  • Duration:
    The visit will take around 60 minutes
  • Location:
    San Francisco Botanical Garden
  • Age requirement:
    All ages!
  • Accessibility:
    The venue is wheelchair accessible

LOCATION

San Francisco Botanic Garden
1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122

GET DIRECTIONS

FAQs

Do you have any questions?
Maybe you can find the answers here!

THE EXPERIENCE

What is Lightscape? Lightscape is a festive visual and sensory experience for family and friends. Stroll through an immersive mile-long trail of dazzling lights, dramatic colors, otherworldly lighted sculptures, and water features – right in the heart of San Francisco Botanical Garden.
How long is the trail? The illuminated trail is approximately a mile long.
Preparations
  • Purchase tickets ahead of time!
  • Layers, layers, layers—be prepared with clothes for all weather!
  • This is an outdoor event in the evening. Please dress for the weather with appropriate layers and comfortable footwear.
  • This event is held rain or shine. For any extreme weather conditions, based on weather services, the event will be cancelled and tickets can be exchanged for a later date.
  • Time spent on the trail will vary based on respective pace, however, you should prepare for at least 45 minutes to walk the trail.
Food and Drink

There will be a variety of food and drink options all evening. Enjoy everything from chicken and waffles, to tacos, dim sum, churros, s’mores, and kettle corn.

Accompany your meal with a cozy hot chocolate, wine, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and more.

Check out the full menu here.

Can I bring food and drinks?

No, there will also be vendors selling food and beverages on site.
Getting Here

Please enter at the Main Gate on 9th Avenue along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Address:

San Francisco Botanical Garden

1199 9th Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94122

Directions
Transportation & Parking
  • Walking, biking, public transit, taxi or rideshare are strongly recommended
  • San Francisco Muni serves the Botanical Garden via a number of convenient bus and metro lines, including the 5, 7, 43, 44, and N-Judah
  • Street parking is free on nearby streets Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Nancy Pelosi Drive, and Bowling Green Drive. Overnight parking restrictions are enforced after 10pm.
  • For paid parking, the Music Concourse Garage will have extended hours closing at 11 pm.
  • Rideshare drop-off to enter Lightscape is 1199 9th Avenue
  • Accessible parking spaces are available along  Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Nancy Pelosi Drive, and Bowling Green Drive. There are also accessible parking spots in the Bandshell All-Accessible Lot across the street from the Botanical Garden.
  • See our Getting Here page for more details
Is Lightscape open during the holidays?

Yes, Lightscape is open on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day!

Enjoy free general admission to San Francisco Botanical Garden during the day on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and stick around for Lightscape in the evening. Lightscape tickets will need to be purchased separately. We hope to see you there

TICKETS

Tickets and Reservations

Adult tickets are:

  • $42 – Peak
  • $38 – Standard
  • $32 – Off-Peak

Youth (5-17) tickets are:

  • $24 – Peak
  • $22 – Standard
  • $20 – Off-Peak

Children (0-4) are: FREE

Gardens Members get 20% off tickets. Not yet a member? Join or renew today!

Same-Day Ticket: $5 premium applies for same-day ticket purchases

Transfer to Another Day (withing 72 hrs.): $10 per transaction

Museums For All Tickets (EBT Cardholders): $10 on special nights, on Nov 21, 23, Dec 4, 7, 11, 17, 18, Jan 4 – normal redemption / proof of eligibility required

Every visit helps our plant collections thrive and keeps the Gardens welcoming for all.

Upgrade to a Flex Ticket: 

Enjoy the flexibility of arriving at any time on your chosen date.  Get Flex Ticket
Ecology and Sustainability

Plants are the stars of the show. Showcasing—while protecting—the Garden’s collections  is our top priority and our Horticulture team at SFRPD is engaged from planning to post-production to select suitable trees, ensure the program leverages ideal paths, and upholds the integrity of the Garden and local wildlife.

Our partners on this event have done similar light trails at the world’s leading botanical gardens in the UK, Europe, US, and Australia as well as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and give significant care to ensure the protection of the plants and wildlife.

In consultation with our experienced event partners we will implement the following proven mitigation strategies:

  • Lights off no later than 10:30pm every night – allowing for approximately 7 hours of normal urban darkness nightly
  • No use of lasers or light rays pointing into the sky
  • Use of LEDs throughout to reduce power requirements

In addition, we ask all visitors to follow these guidelines:

  • Please remain on trails, pathways, and designated areas at all times.
  • Feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited for the safety of visitors and wildlife.
  • Please avoid picking or stepping on plants.
  • Please respect the trees and avoid climbing them.
  • Please collect any waste you create and properly dispose of it in the bins provided throughout the Garden.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Code of Conduct

We strive to create a safe, enjoyable, and welcoming environment for all visitors. To help us achieve this, we kindly ask you to adhere to the following code of conduct:

Please be respectful towards all staff, volunteers, and other visitors. Treat everyone with courtesy and consideration, regardless of their age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other personal characteristic. Avoid using offensive language or gestures.

Failure to comply with this code of conduct may result in you and your party being asked to leave the premises. If you experience or witness any inappropriate conduct, you can contact the Gardens at (415) 661-1316 or email info@gggp.org.

Code of Conduct

What time should I arrive? Please allow extra time for entry and parking. Your entry time is a 15-minute window from the time printed on your tickets, for example, 5-5:15pm.
Are walk-up tickets available on site for purchase? Walk-up tickets are limited and based on availability; admission cannot be guaranteed. A $5 premium applies to same-day ticket purchases.
If I miss my ticket slot, can I join a later slot? We will do our best to accommodate you in the next slots based on availability. There is no entry after 9pm.
Group Visits For groups of 25 or more people, please contact lightscape@gggp.org
Membership Discount

Exclusive member discount

Become a Member and save 20% on your Lightscape tickets along with a host of other benefits throughout the year.

Members sign in with your member login after selecting your date and time. Email membership@gggp.org if you have trouble with your member login.
Can I take pictures? Yes! While waiting for that perfect shot, please do not block pathways or views of others. We do not allow tripods, monopods or drones or props. Professional or commercial photoshoots are not permitted during the event. Photographs and videos may not be used for commercial purposes.
Are strollers allowed? Strollers are welcome in San Francisco Botanical Garden, which has paths that are well-designed to accommodate them.
Are pets allowed? No pets are allowed, except for service animals (dogs), as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Are bikes, scooters, or skateboards allowed? Wheeled vehicles (bikes, skateboards, scooters) are not allowed in the Garden. Bike racks are available near the entrances to all gardens for visitors to use with a self provided lock.
Is there white strobe lighting? There will be some light installations with flashing lights; however, there is no strobe lighting.