Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary

San Francisco | 2012

As part of an extensive team led by Foghorn Creative, Lightswitch designed the lighting effects for the show.

What It Was

Tens of thousands watched as lights flashed, fireworks burst and music soared at the 75th anniversary celebration of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Hosted by The Golden Gate Bridge National Parks Conservancy and The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, the day-long Golden Gate Festival culminated in an unforgettable, 20-minute grand finale. A pyrotechnic display on the bridge signaled the start of the tribute, which featured a total of five barges that set the bay ablaze with a spectacular light and fireworks show coordinated to music. The finale ended with a lighting display that recalled the Scintillator, an early lighting effect used at the Pan Pacific Exposition in 1915 and at the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939.

What We Did

As part of an extensive team led by Foghorn Creative, Lightswitch designed the lighting effects for the show. We coordinated with Pyro Spectaculars North and lighting vendor Syncrolite to ensure that the pyrotechnic and lighting effects were seamlessly integrated for the performance. Anticipating potential problems with the Bay Area’s infamous weather, Lightswitch suggested that the show take place on moving barges, which would be visible even if the bridge were fogged in.

Why It Worked

Lightswitch was sensitive to the cultural significance of the anniversary event. We thoughtfully incorporated historic details into the lighting displays, while bringing them into the 21st century with contemporary technology and techniques. The result was a performance that was at once classic and current.