For the 96th year in a row, SF biggest and roundest Christmas tree gets its switch flipped in a 6:30 pm lighting Thursday night. Meanwhile, Salesforce Park gets its holiday light display lit Friday, plus a sing-along Frozen Saturday.

The 145-year-old, 83-foot-tall Monterey cypress tree at Stanyan and Fell streets in Golden Gate park known as Uncle John’s Tree has grown into San Francisco’s official Christmas tree. And it gets lit with 550 multi-colored lights tonight, Thursday, December 4, at the 96th annual  Golden Gate Park Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:30 pm.  


The festivities will go well beyond 6:30 pm, as this celebration is quite the family-friendly bash. There’s a holiday train, carnival rides, lion dancers, a slew of food trucks, and a stage with live music. Mayor Daniel Lurie will be on hand to give remarks, as will outgoing Rec and Parks director Phil Ginsburg, if that does anything for you.

This tree lighting has been happening every year, even during COVID, since 1929. At that time, it was highly unusual for Christmas trees to have electric lights. But that whole thing was paid for by the tree’s namesake, Scottish botanist John McLaren, who is credited with landscaping Golden Gate Park as we know it today.


FYI, another tree-lighting is also happening tonight at Pier 39 from 5 to 9 pm, complete with live music, carolers, to-go drinks, and a Santa Claus.

Then there’s another razzle-dazzle light-up ceremony Friday night (5-7 pm) at South of Market’s Salesforce Park, in Winterfest at Salesforce Park. That’s a three-day event that lasts the weekend, and organizers promise that Friday’s lighting celebration will feature "live music from the band Magic Nostalgia, dancing, and a countdown to the park’s holiday illumination at 5:30 pm.”

The fun there continues Saturday with snow globe ornament making and a gift wrapping station, a 5 pm Frozen sing-a-long screening, and “Ugly Sweater Silent Disco” from 5-7 pm. Then on Sunday, the park will host a holiday wreath-making party in three different sessions (9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm).

Related: Lights Out: LED Forest ‘Entwined’ Sadly Not Returning to Golden Gate Park for the Holidays This Year [SFist]

Image: SF Rec and Parks