The 56th annual SF Pride weekend starts Friday night with a rainbow laser installation stretching from Ferry Plaza to Twin Peaks. Here's the full three-day rundown — free drag tonight, local bands Saturday, the parade and Aly & AJ Sunday.

SF Pride's 56th annual celebration runs June 26–28, and the kickoff event tonight is worth timing your evening around. Starting at 9:20 p.m., a rainbow laser installation fires from Ferry Plaza down Market Street all the way to Twin Peaks — a 4.1-mile beam the organizers bill as the world's largest Pride flag. The lasers stay lit from sunset to sunrise all weekend, but tonight's the lighting ceremony, and the waterfront throws a party around it.

Head to Ferry Plaza by 8 p.m. for the "Welcome" kick-off celebration: DJ, circus performers, and drag queens before the beam goes live. It's free, no ticket. If you want a full evening, start earlier at the Merchants Exchange (465 California St) at 6 p.m. for the finale of "Drag Me Downtown," a free Pride-month drag series running its final night — RuPaul's Drag Race alum Jax is on the bill. It's about a fifteen-minute walk to the waterfront from there.

Saturday, June 27: The musical anchor is Bay Pride Amplified at The Independent (628 Divisadero), doors 9 p.m. Local bands Pillowprince, Medscool, and Cardboard People play a bill curated by the organizers behind Outside Lands. Emporium Arcade Bar is next door if you need to kill time before the show opens.

Sunday, June 28: The Pride Parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. at Beale and Market, runs 1.6 miles to Civic Center Plaza. The free celebration at Civic Center goes through late afternoon across six stages — Kamaiyah, Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind, and Aly & AJ headlining. Optional $5–$10 donation at the gate. After-party: Juanita MORE! at Audio (316 11th St, SoMa), 7 p.m. to midnight, with DJs David Harness, Tedd Patterson, and Poundcake.

If you only do one thing tonight, get to the Ferry Building end of Market Street by 8:30. That's the vantage where you see the full four miles of it — all the way up to Twin Peaks — when the lights come on at 9:20.