The Neon Speaks Festival & Symposium brings together neon sign makers, artists, and preservationists to celebrate and share the future of neon. Online Events Passport holders gain access to all online events and recordings on YouTube. Neon Speaks 2022 is supported by sponsorships and ticket donations.

Two Weekends Sept 9, 10, 11 & 17, 18 | Online & in-person

See individual program links for more info & tickets

Register for an Online All-Event Passport for all Zoom events and recordings for Neon Speaks 2022. Join us in celebrating the past and future neon! In-person events will be ticketed separately.

At-a-Glance Schedule 2022

FRIDAY, SEPT 9
“NEON” Documentary. Online Watch Party for “NEON: Feel the Glow”
This screening of the stunning documentary “NEON” is followed by a Q&A with director, Lawrence Johnston, live from Australia. “NEON” is packed with animated neon, interviews, and amazing historic footage. If you are new to Neon Speaks, this film is a great way to find out what the buzz is all about for creating and preserving neon. Interviews feature familiar faces from Neon Speaks: Tod Swormstedt, Tom Rinaldi, Debra Jane Seltzer, Dydia DeLyser, Paul Greenstein, and more.
Register free or by donation.

SATURDAY, SEPT 10
Neon Speaks Symposium on Zoom: including behind-the-scenes tours, the art of neon, preservation forum, and a neon-matchbook typography tour. To watch live and recorded events, register for an Online All-Event Passport.

SUNDAY, SEPT 11
Neon Works Shop Tour and Demo, Join us for this Indoor/outdoor event in Oakland with Jim Rizzo, Adam Taylor, with Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan of SF Neon. Jim opens up his shop for tours of his vintage neon collection once in a blue moon.
SOLD OUT!

Alameda Neon Walking Tours. The historical city of Alameda CA is the location for this walking tour with local historian Devi. L. Dahl. Extra tour added on September 25. Limited space, these walking tours will sell out.

SATURDAY, SEPT 17
Neon Curiosity Lounge at the Museum of Neon Art/MONA, Glendale, CA, This indoor/outdoor event features an all-star lineup of neon experts, artists, and historians. Register soon, this in-person event will sell out.

SUNDAY, SEPT 18
Festival Online Finale 
An Insider’s Look at the Neon Muzeum, Warsaw, Poland

This end-of the-festival event is a presentation by David Hill that features a fascinating story about a particular chapter in neon history: the beautiful cold-war era neon signs that illuminated Warsaw. Many of these neon signs were saved by museum directors David Hill and Ilona Karwinska. David and Ilona will be hand for a live Q&A session wrap up the festival. Register for an Online All-Event Passport.

Classic Neon Cruise® Bus Tour presented by the MONA
Join urban anthropologist and neon expert Eric Lynxwiler for a nighttime double-decker bus tour of historic neon signs! This special edition tour just for Neon Speaks departs from outside MONA.
Register soon, this event will sell out.