Source: Stephen Coles
Matchbook-Neon Tour
Thu 2/12 | 6:00 pm Sold Out
Wed 3/4 | 6:00 pm Sold Out
From vintage type to old glowing signs, follow the historic corridors of mid-century nightlife in San Francisco via neon and matchbooks. It is a treasure hunt to discover these beautiful signs hidden in plain sight above local watering holes, small hotels, corner stores, beautiful garages, and old-school eateries. Tour ends at Union Square. Spend an evening with Stephen Coles of Letterform Archive and San Francisco Neon‘s co-founders Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan. Tours include local history with typography insights into San Francisco’s vintage matchbooks and neon signs. Photography and a lively Q&A are encouraged. Be prepared to walk 1.5 hours .
Photo by Al Barna
North Beach Neon Walking Tour
Register 3/12 | 6:30 pm
North Beach has an impressive array of classic watering holes, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants in a neighborhood that is famous for vintage neon and bohemian history. It is a treasure hunt to discover these beautiful signs hidden in plain sight. Take a twilight tour with San Francisco Neon founders Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan. Tour features local history with architectural and graphic design insights to San Francisco’s unique legacy of surviving neon signs. Be prepared to walk uphill and flats for 1.25 hours with rest stops. Tour begins on Broadway and ends near Washington Square.
Photo by Al Barna
Roxie-Mission SF Neon Walking Tour
Register 3/21 | 7:15 pm
The Mission District of San Francisco has an impressive array of classic watering holes, eateries, and cinemas with some of the best vintage neon signs in the city. It is a treasure hunt to discover these beautiful signs in the heart of this neighborhood. Take a twilight tour with SF Neon historians Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan. We start at the Roxie Theater and end at the New Mission Theater. This tour features eclectic local history with architectural and graphic design insights to San Francisco’s unique legacy of surviving neon signs. Be prepared to walk for 1 mile for 1.5 hours with rest stops. Photography and a lively Q&A are encouraged.
Photo by Al Barna
Chinatown Neon Walking Tour
Register Sat 3/28 | 6:00 pm
Walk with us to find forgotten vintage neon signs in the streets of Chinatown, back alleys and backstories are included. It is a treasure hunt to discover these beautiful signs hidden in plain sight. We save the best for last: the glowing signs are at the end of the tour at twilight. Take a twilight tour with San Francisco Neon authors and photographers Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan that includes neighborhood history with architectural/design insights. Be prepared to walk for approximately 1.5 hours, with rest stops.
Neon Speaks 2026
Festival & Symposium
SAVE THE DATES!
Reno | Sept 12 & 13
San Francisco | Sept 19
Oakland | Sept 20
MORE DETAILS at neonspeaks.org
SAN FRANCISCO NEON:
SURVIVORS AND LOST ICONS
A lush portrait that celebrates the past and future of
San Francisco’s neon landscape.
Authors/photographers:
Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan
Softcover edition copies available to ship now!
$33 plus shipping.
Contact us for wholesale and international orders.
NEON PODCASTS
99 PERCENT INVISIBLE
Listen to “Tube Benders”, a deep dive into the topic of neon signs, featuring John Law, Shawna Peterson, and SF Neon. Produced by Avery Trufleman of 99% Invisible, a KALW NPR radio show on architecture and design.
MUNI DIARIES
Listen to an illuminating story told by SF Neon authors Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan “SF Neon tells the story of the giant neon dancing leg of Mason Street.” Produced by the MuniDiaries.com, This is a San Francisco neon mystery that remains unsolved!
ONLINE NEON BOOK STORE
Visit our online neon bookstore for a list of books published by Giant Orange Press, the publishing arm of SF Neon and Neon Speaks Festival and Symposium. Fast U.S. shipping. Contact us for international orders and bookstore orders.
SF Neon T-shirts: Limited Editions
Each year for Neon Speaks we design a new limited edition t-shirt.
High quality printing, 100% cotton.
We still have a few different designs, while they last.