If you're looking for a reason to actually go outside tonight instead of doomscrolling, here it is: fireworks are lighting up the waterfront near the Exploratorium around 10 p.m.
The show is part of SF Proms and will run about 15 minutes off Pier 15/17. The Port of San Francisco confirmed the display, and with clear skies in the forecast, conditions are looking solid for a good view.
No tickets required. No $47 cocktail minimum. No city-approved fun zone with a three-hour line. Just show up along the Embarcadero, look up, and enjoy something San Francisco does surprisingly well when it gets out of its own way — putting on a show.
For the best vantage points, anywhere along the waterfront between the Ferry Building and Pier 17 should do the trick. If you're feeling ambitious, the edges of Telegraph Hill or even Treasure Island could offer a decent view.
A few practical notes: parking near the Embarcadero on a clear evening is exactly the nightmare you're imagining, so BART, Muni, or a rideshare is your friend. The show is short — 15 minutes — so don't be the person who shows up at 10:12 and wonders why everyone's already leaving.
Look, we spend a lot of time in this space talking about what San Francisco gets wrong. Tonight is a nice reminder of what it gets right: a world-class waterfront, a free community event, and hopefully a few minutes where nobody's arguing about bike lanes or supervisor elections. Enjoy it, SF.