After three long years of darkness, the Bay Bridge is about to glow again. Tonight at 7:30 pm, the beloved Bay Lights installation is officially flipping back on, and honestly, we’re here for it.

If you somehow forgot what the Bay Lights are, here’s the deal: artist Leo Villareal created this stunning LED art installation that turns the Bay Bridge cables into a massive light show. The original version debuted in 2013 with 25,000 LEDs, but it only lasted until 2015 when the bridge needed repainting. A second version came back in 2016, but by 2023, weather and wear had taken their toll, and the lights went dark again.

Now, the nonprofit Illuminate has pulled off something pretty incredible. They raised $11 million to bring back the Bay Lights, and this time they’re going bigger and better. The new installation, called Bay Lights 360, features 50,000 LEDs total, double the original amount. The best part? The lights now cover both sides of the cables, so you can see the show from both the north and south. That means whether you’re watching from the Embarcadero or Oakland, you’re getting the full experience.

Villareal describes the installation as “a way of making invisible systems visible”. Basically, the lights respond to the bridge’s movement, traffic patterns, weather, and other environmental factors. It’s not just decoration, it’s the bridge’s heartbeat translated into light. Pretty cool, right?

The fundraising campaign brought in donations from 1,500 people and companies, ranging from $2 to $1 million. That kind of community support shows just how much the Bay Area cares about this iconic installation. Mayor Daniel Lurie will be giving a speech at tonight’s relighting ceremony on the Embarcadero, and the celebration is also honoring former Mayor Willie Brown’s 92nd birthday (the western span of the Bay Bridge is named after him).

If you want to make a night of it, multiple waterfront restaurants are hosting parties, and the official after-party fundraiser is happening at SHACK15 in the Ferry Building with tickets at $200. Fair warning though: the south-facing lights won’t actually be on tonight since they’re still going through final safety testing and agency review. But hey, at least the north side is coming back.

Ben Davis, founder of Illuminate, put it perfectly: “For the next decade, more than 20 million residents and visitors each year will find comfort, awe, and perhaps a little reassurance in that glow”. With any luck, this version of the Bay Lights will actually make it the full ten years it’s supposed to last. Either way, tonight’s going to be pretty special.