diff --git a/docs/screens/boards/elcapitan-night-board.jpg b/docs/screens/boards/elcapitan-night-board.jpg
index 9367346..1c530d3 100644
Binary files a/docs/screens/boards/elcapitan-night-board.jpg and b/docs/screens/boards/elcapitan-night-board.jpg differ
diff --git a/docs/screens/boards/elcapitan-night-board.json b/docs/screens/boards/elcapitan-night-board.json
index c15a56f..ab24ef7 100644
--- a/docs/screens/boards/elcapitan-night-board.json
+++ b/docs/screens/boards/elcapitan-night-board.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "board": "elcapitan-night-board.jpg",
-  "caption": "El Capitan block, night: CC BY-SA photo (redistribution only) | photo-anchored concept | current capture",
+  "caption": "El Capitan block, night: CC BY-SA photo (redistribution only) | photo-anchored concept | current capture (banner self-light + facade washes).",
   "photo": "docs/screens/refs/hollywood/hollywood-boulevard-night-context-ccbysa.jpg",
   "concept": "docs/screens/concepts/hollywood_boulevard/el_capitan_facade_night.png",
   "capture": "docs/screenshots/05-late-night-avenue.png"
diff --git a/docs/screenshots/05-late-night-avenue.png b/docs/screenshots/05-late-night-avenue.png
index 61ace1d..7401aac 100644
Binary files a/docs/screenshots/05-late-night-avenue.png and b/docs/screenshots/05-late-night-avenue.png differ
diff --git a/src/game/world_builder.gd b/src/game/world_builder.gd
index d959493..c63f953 100644
--- a/src/game/world_builder.gd
+++ b/src/game/world_builder.gd
@@ -1111,8 +1111,13 @@ func _add_masonic_lattice(parent: Node3D, x: float, y: float, z: float,
 
 func _add_masonic_banner(parent: Node3D, x: float, front: float, text: String) -> void:
 	var red := Color(0.58, 0.055, 0.065)
-	_add_box(parent, Vector3(2.62, 5.55, 0.06), Vector3(x, 8.2, front + 0.73),
+	# The reference night photo keeps the event banners readable against the dark
+	# stone: a low warm self-light that the day/night cycle brightens (not a
+	# glowing neon box). Registered with `_marquee_emissive` in `set_night_mode`.
+	var cloth := _add_box(parent, Vector3(2.62, 5.55, 0.06), Vector3(x, 8.2, front + 0.73),
 		red, true, null, Vector2.ONE, "cloth")
+	cloth.material_override = Materials.emissive(red, 0.14)
+	_marquee_emissive.append(cloth.material_override)
 	for y in [5.55, 10.85]:
 		_add_box(parent, Vector3(2.82, 0.10, 0.12), Vector3(x, y, front + 0.75),
 			Color(0.78, 0.62, 0.28), true, null, Vector2.ONE, "metal")
diff --git a/src/test/tests/test_world.gd b/src/test/tests/test_world.gd
index 55ff5f0..073c666 100644
--- a/src/test/tests/test_world.gd
+++ b/src/test/tests/test_world.gd
@@ -113,6 +113,13 @@ func test_hollywood_uses_the_real_landmark_layout() -> bool:
 	var banners := root.find_child("EventBanners", true, false)
 	var d := TestUtils.check(banners != null and banners.get_child_count() >= 9,
 		"three red event banners with their trim are present")
+	# The event banners stay readable at night: the cloth carries a warm
+	# self-light that the day/night cycle brightens (not a flat dead panel).
+	var banner_cloth: Material = banners.get_child(0).material_override \
+		if banners != null and banners.get_child_count() > 0 else null
+	var d2 := TestUtils.check(banner_cloth is StandardMaterial3D
+		and (banner_cloth as StandardMaterial3D).emission_enabled,
+		"the event banner cloth is emissive for the night balance")
 	var walk := root.find_child("WalkOfFame", true, false)
 	var walk_band := walk.get_child(0) as MeshInstance3D if walk != null else null
 	var walk_material: Material = walk_band.mesh.surface_get_material(0) if walk_band != null else null
@@ -130,7 +137,7 @@ func test_hollywood_uses_the_real_landmark_layout() -> bool:
 		and WorldBuilder.placement_problems(placements).is_empty(),
 		"the landmark prop placements keep the wide steps clear")
 	root.free()
-	return a and b and c and d and e and f and g and h
+	return a and b and c and d and d2 and e and f and g and h
 
 
 func test_hollywood_geometry_stays_inside_the_map_budget() -> bool: