WELCOME

WELCOME debuted in 2022 and has grown in scale and impact every year since. In 2023, the installation inspired the Summer of Awe series, with WELCOME serving as its inaugural event. In 2024, it expanded to 20 laser cannons — one for each year of marriage equality in San Francisco. In 2025, WELCOME anchored a Pride Weekend Kick-Off Celebration featuring drag performances beneath the iconic R-Evolution statue at Embarcadero Plaza. In 2026, WELCOME marked its fifth year – welcoming circus performers to the celebration for the first time, adding wonder and spectacle to an event that honors San Francisco’s enduring legacy as a global leader in LGBTQ+ visibility and rights.

The Friday night Grand Lighting has become the must-attend free kick-off to Pride Weekend, drawing beloved community icons including the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and SF Dykes on Bikes.

WELCOME is produced without corporate sponsorship. There are no logos in the flag. This is a grassroots labor of love, made possible by our community. Donations are gratefully accepted and directly support this free, annual celebration.