Watch: How SF's Cable Cars Get Decked Out With Their Holiday Decorations

"As of today, the cable cars you see running on San Francisco hills are now completely decorated up for the holidays, on both the outside and inside on their interiors. (Well, 12 of them are at least). And KTVU was on hand for the decorating party that was on Sunday, and reports on how SF's cable cars get festooned up for the holidays."

"It turns out this is an all-volunteer effort, and the vast majority of the decorating volunteers do not even work for Muni or the SFMTA. Though the process is overseen by noted longtime cable car gripman Val Lupiz. In fact, in the above video we see that one of the decorating volunteers is dressed head-to-toe as Emperor Norton. That would be famed Emperor Norton impersonator and tour guide Joseph Amster, and his photoset from cable car decorating can be seen below."

Twelve San Francisco cable cars are decorated inside and out for the holidays. The decoration work is performed entirely by volunteers, most of whom are not Muni or SFMTA employees. The volunteer effort is overseen by longtime cable car gripman Val Lupiz. The tradition began 25 years ago with a single decorated car and has expanded to 12 decorated cars today. One decorating volunteer was dressed as Emperor Norton, represented by impersonator and tour guide Joseph Amster. Managers refer to the volunteers as the cable cars elves. The decorated cars will run through the end of 2025 into early 2026.

Read at sfist.com