SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The historic Monterey cypress tree outside of McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park is now shining bright through the holidays for the 95th consecutive year following the annual tree lighting ceremony, San Francisco Recreation and Park officials announced today.
During the festive celebration, Mayor London Breed joined city officials and community members onstage to light up the 100-foot-tall tree, which was dressed in more than 550 lights. In addition to the tree lighting, the event also included live music, a holiday train, carnival rides, food vendors, and lion dancers.
During the event, city officials took the opportunity to thank Mayor Breed for her commitment to the City’s parks and open spaces, as her term is set to conclude at the end of the month. Under her leadership, San Francisco has invested $1 billion in parks and open space improvements, resulting in more than 20 major park projects completed or underway, ensuring that all residents have access to safe and inviting outdoor spaces.
“The holiday tree lighting event in Golden Gate Park has been a San Francisco favorite for nearly a century and I’m honored to have been part of this longtime tradition every year,” said Mayor London Breed. “Whether it’s a holiday tree lighting at a park, ice skating at Union Square, or a holiday fair at the Randall Museum or the County Fair Building, I’m proud that our public parks and open spaces remain top destinations for people near and far who come to the City to celebrate the holidays and events year-round.”
Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg presented Mayor Breed with a golden park sign in honor of the Mayor presiding over the City’s golden age of parks.
“Mayor Breed’s vision and dedication have transformed our park system into one of the best in the world, from breathtaking waterfronts and vibrant promenades to revitalized playgrounds and iconic public spaces,” Ginsburg said. “She ushered in a parks renaissance that has redefined what green spaces mean to our city—places of beauty, connection, and resilience. Tonight, as we light this tree, we celebrate the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind and the lasting inspiration of her leadership."
Maika Pinkston, a Bayview Hunters Point community advocate and founder of From the Heart, was one of several Park Champions who were invited onstage to participate in the tree lighting ceremony.
“Representing my community and participating in the planning of India Basin Waterfront Park has been a humbling experience. And with the park’s southern portion now open, it’s rewarding to see Bayview Hunters Point families enjoying the new waterfront space,” Pinkston said. “Mayor Breed’s commitment to uplifting the city’s most challenged communities has been inspiring to witness, and India Basin is a testament to what can result when government and communities work together.”
The lighting of the historic tree, known as Uncle John’s Tree, is a San Francisco holiday tradition that began in 1929. Named after the department’s first superintendent John McLaren, the tree was first lit up in honor of McLaren’s 84th birthday. The tree is believed to have been planted in the 1880s.
In addition to the lights on Uncle John’s Tree, visitors are encouraged to check out the other light displays happening in Golden Gate Park.
Last month, the nonprofit Illuminate installed a 26-foot wide, 13-foot tall solar-powered public art piece Solar Arch along the JFK Promenade at Conservatory Drive East. Created by San Francisco-based artist fnnch, who originally produced the piece for Burning Man, the arch is designed to absorb and store solar energy during the day and can run autonomously and self-sustaining for months, or even years. The arch’s lights begin at dusk and run through midnight daily, and then return for a brief show at dawn.
In addition, the Conservatory of Flowers has begun its annual light show Photosynthesis. The free show consists of colorful lights and psychedelic patterns projected onto the historic building, starting 30 minutes after sunset every night. The installation was designed by Lumigeek and features music by Tim Digulla.
###