Jun 28, 2024 - Things to Do

Market Street lights return for Pride weekend

Claire Reilly

A rainbow light is blasted into the night sky in San Francisco — Rainbow lights illuminate the sky in San Francisco. Photo: Ken Chen

The world's largest Pride flag is coming back to Market Street and it will be even bigger this year.

State of play: Organized by Illuminate, the "Welcome" installation sends rainbow beams down the 4.1-mile stretch of Market Street during Pride weekend.

While the past two summers have featured six laser light beams, this year's installation will "deploy 20 laser space cannons," according to Illuminate's website.

Driving the news: It's all in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the "Summer of Love" in 2004, when San Francisco defied a national ban to legalize same-sex marriage.

What's happening: There will be a kick-off party at Harry Bridges Plaza starting at 6:30pm Friday, with programming including a vow renewal ceremony for two LGBTQ+ couples who were married in the Summer of Love.

Then the Dykes on Bikes will arrive at 9:20pm with a rainbow torch to "light" the show. Welcome will light up Market Street today through Sunday from sunset to daybreak.

Worthy of your time: Check out video from last year's installation on our Axios SF Instagram.

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Market Street lights return for Pride weekend

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