Only in San Francisco

Nov. 12, 2007 — Get plugged into all the holiday events at www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com, the complete resource for special events, holiday hotel packages and, for one lucky winner, the opportunity to win a $1,000 Visa gift card, sponsored exclusively by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Garlands of lights, holiday lanterns and the observance of a much beloved tradition, the lighting of “Uncle John’s Tree” in Golden Gate Park, will brighten San Francisco this season.

The 100-foot-tall Monterey cypress at the entrance to Golden Gate Park will be lit at sundown on Nov. 29, just as it has been for the past 77 years. At the same moment in Civic Center Plaza a 38-foot-tall tree will be lit, joining dozens of others around the city.

Named for John McLaren, the superintendent of Golden Gate Park from 1890 to 1943, Uncle John’s Tree was lit even during the war years. 

Noted historian Raymond Cleary writes in his book The Making of Golden Gate Park: The Early Years: 1856-1906: “The war came to Golden Gate Park in 1941. In 1942 McLaren was desperately ill in the Park Lodge. Because of the war, lights were out all over the city, and the Christmas tree in front of the lodge was dark. But when McLaren asked if the tree could be lighted again, it was done. A policeman, an air-raid warden and a gardener stayed on duty to make sure the lights were turned off in case of an alert.”

Among the tree lightings and illuminations planned for the San Francisco holiday season are: 

Through Dec. 2

Fifth Annual Lights of the Philippines: The Holiday Lantern

Zeum, 221 Fourth St.

Information: 415-820-3320, www.zeum.org

Zeum’s Spiral Gallery will be lit with star-shaped lanterns made by local youth. Supporting artwork will include photographs, music and stories about how this tradition developed. Children will also be able to make their own lanterns at two workshops and join in the annual Parol Stroll on Dec. 8. Artists from the Filipino-American Development Foundation will participate in workshops scheduled for Nov. 17 and 24 at 2 pm. 

Nov. 16

Winter Carnival 2007 and Lighting of Embarcadero Center Buildings

Embarcadero Center Street Level, Buildings 1-4

4-6:30 pm

Building Lighting 6 pm

Information:  415-772-0734 or visit www.embarcaderocenter.com

Embarcadero Center will kick off the San Francisco holiday season on Friday, Nov. 16 with a Winter Carnival from 4-6:30 pm. A perfect outing for families, the Winter Carnival will feature a host of fun activities for the kids, such as carnival games, interactive arts, craft booths, face painters, balloon twisters and musical performances.

The Embarcadero Center’s 26^th Annual Building Lighting Ceremony begins at 6 pm on Friday, Nov.16 with festivities at the Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center, including an aerial performance by Velocity Circus, an ice show, special guest performances and a spectacular pyrotechnic show. All this exhilarating entertainment has been designed to complement the highlight of the evening, the initial lighting of Embarcadero Center’s dramatic office towers with 17,000 lights.

Nov. 16

Holiday Lighting Ceremony

Hyatt Regency San Francisco, 5 Embarcadero Center

7-8 pm

Information: 415-788-1234 or visit www.sanfranciscoregency.hyatt.com

The Hyatt Regency San Francisco is brightening things up with the interior lighting ceremony in the hotel’s Guinness Book of World Records “largest atrium lobby.” Once the Embarcadero’s exterior is aglow, the celebration moves inside the Hyatt Regency at 7 pm and will feature the illumination of 300,000 cascading lights and the centerpiece 45-foot tree. In addition to entertainment by Velocity Circus bringing to life The Tale of Narnia, the hotel will be filled with entertainment, costumed characters and carolers roaming the lobby.  Complimentary holiday punch and cookies will also be served.

Nov. 18

Holiday Harmony

Pier 39

1- 6 pm

Information: 415-705-5500 or visit www.pier39.com

A multi-cultural celebration, Pier 39's holiday tree lighting will feature Bay Area groups such as Lavay Smith and Her Red Skillet Lickers performing seasonal favorites from around the world. The entertainment will include holiday traditions from Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa. Pier 39's majestic tree, adorned with 400 glistening ornaments, 500 multi-colored bows and 2,000 twinkling lights will be lit at 5:30 pm in the entrance plaza.

Nov. 23

Ghirardelli Square 43rd Annual Tree Lighting

Ghirardelli Square, West Plaza, 900 North Point

5:30 pm

Information: 415-775-5500 or visit www.ghirardellisq.com

Ghirardelli Square kicks off the holiday season with its 43rd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. All attendees will be treated to a Gh
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