Earth Hour 2023 Ferris wheel lighting at the Santa Monica Pier

Published on March 19, 2023

The Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel will be lit Lights off except rim, 1 hr on Saturday, March 25 in recognition of Earth Hour 2023.

On Saturday, March 25 at 8:30 p.m. local time, Earth Hour, one of the largest global grassroots movements for the environment, will bring together millions of people, businesses and leaders from around the world to raise awareness on the urgent need to address nature loss and climate change.

The iconic Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel in Los Angeles joins other world-famous landmarks including the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London, the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Greece, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Great Wall of China, among others at 8:30 p.m. local time on March 25. The Pacific Wheel Earth Hour event can also be viewed online at https://www.pacpark.com/live.

WHAT:
Special Lighting of the Pacific Wheel for Earth Hour 2023

WHEN:
Saturday, March 25
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM

WHERE:
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

 

Started in 2007 by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney to raise awareness of climate change, Earth Hour is now one of the world’s largest grassroots movements for the environment. Held every year on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour engages supporters in more than 190 countries and territories, all taking action to ensure a brighter future for people and the planet.

Earth Hour participants can visit earthhour.org to know what’s happening in locations around the world and read individuals’ stories about what they are doing for the planet. Now is the time to secure a healthy, sustainable and climate-resilient future for all. Every voice, no matter how big or small, can help make a difference.

“From our solar-powered Ferris wheel to the power of our grassroots efforts, Pacific Park is committed to being the best environmental partner possible by working within our community and globally with national and international companies,” said Nathan Smithson, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “We have been a staunch supporter of Earth Hour since the beginning and believe in its messaging and initiatives on sustainability, climate and environmental awareness throughout the world.”

Through its own ecological efforts, Pacific Park received the “Excellence in Stewardship of the Natural Environment” award at the 15th annual Sustainable Quality Awards presented by the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and the nonprofit Sustainable Works.

The nine-story tall Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel first debuted in May 1996 with the opening of Pacific Park and was adapted as the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel in November 1998.

Pacific Park also introduced the world’s first wind-powered amusement park game, the High Striker, in October 2011. All components of the High Striker were completely wind-powered including the chaser lights with more than 100 bulbs, multiple spotlights and sound system.

Soaring 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Wheel’s 174,000 LED lights are mounted on the Ferris wheel’s structure including the 40 spokes and two hubs. The world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel’s lighting system features 16.7 million color value combinations while the programming and display software presents imaging up to 24 frames per second to display dynamic, custom, computer-generated lighting entertainment. The eco-friendly, enhanced LED lighting provides 81 percent greater energy savings than most Ferris wheel’s traditional incandescent bulbs.

 

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Feature image courtesy of @pacpark