# Illuminate SF Festival of Light - Thanksgiving Weekend Walking Exploration > Event for families in the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont area (CA). Times are Pacific Time. - When: Nov 26 – Nov 29 · 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM - Where: San Francisco Waterfront & Downtown, Embarcadero & Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105 - Ages: All ages; wide, flat stroller-friendly pedestrian promenades along the Embarcadero and Yerba Buena Gardens - Price: Free public access; self-guided walking tours and interactive downloadable digital maps - Organizer: San Francisco Travel Association & Illuminate.org - Official page: https://www.sftravel.com/illuminate-sf-festival-of-light - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/san-francisco/activities/illuminate-sf-festival-of-light-thanksgiving-weekend-walking-explorati--listing-a0a70d6108f7cbedd3d6b5c6 ## About Beginning on Thanksgiving evening and shining throughout the holiday weekend, the Illuminate SF Festival of Light transforms San Francisco into a sprawling, open-air gallery of museum-quality public light art. Over 60 glowing sculptures, dynamic LED bridges, and neon installations light up 17 vibrant neighborhoods, offering families an enchanting, free post-dinner adventure. Stroller-friendly walking routes along the wide Embarcadero promenade provide magnificent views of The Bay Lights dancing across the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. Families can explore glowing geometric light canopies at Salesforce Transit Center's 5.4-acre rooftop park and interactive fiber-optic installations in Yerba Buena Gardens. Free downloadable mobile walking guides with kid-friendly scavenger hunt prompts make discovering the glowing art a captivating holiday tradition. ## Similar picks in San Francisco - [The Fairmont San Francisco Thanksgiving Feast at Laurel Court](https://grassyknees.com/san-francisco/activities/the-fairmont-san-francisco-thanksgiving-feast-at-laurel-court--listing-83a55a93c3fa54c2c31e9387) — Thu, Nov 26 · 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar at Fairmont San Francisco · All ages · From $75 · checked Nov 4. Perched atop Nob Hill, the Fairmont San Francisco's Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar presents a luxurious Thanksgiving feast tailored for the whole family. 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