An LED beacon has a plurality of LEDs for emitting light of the same or different colors mounting along an upright member within an optical system. To provide a beacon illuminating selectively in one or more colors, the plurality of LEDs are in different groups of two or more LEDs, at least one LED in each group being of a different color. Each group of LEDs are mounted together circumferentially spaced from each other around a central axis. Each of the LEDs when activated projects light there from through the optical system provided by a collimating lens and a condensing, coupling lens. The optical system provides enhanced illumination distributed in a cylindrical beam emanating from the collimating lens. By selectively activating LEDs of the same colors or different color at different times different sequences or patterns may be generated.