Flag Day Ferris wheel lighting at the Santa Monica Pier

Published on June 9, 2023

The Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel will be lit red, white, and blue on Wednesday, June 14 in recognition of Flag Day 2023.

Flag Day is a United States federal holiday that commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The Flag Resolution, passed on June 14, 1777, stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

Pacific Park will join other landmarks in displaying red, white, and blue for the holiday. The Pacific Wheel will also display a 90ft tall animated, waving American flag.

This special lighting event will take place on the evening of Wednesday, June 14. The Ferris wheel lights can be seen from dusk until 11:35 PM each evening. Enjoy watching the light program online at www.pacpark.com/live.
 

WHAT:
Special Lighting of the Pacific Wheel for Flag Day 2023

WHEN:
Wednesday, June 14
dusk (around 8 PM) to midnight

WHERE:
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

 

Flag Day was first celebrated in 1885, when a school teacher named Bernard J. Cigrand urged his students to observe June 14 as “Flag Birthday.” The holiday was officially recognized by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, and by Congress in 1949. On Flag Day, Americans are encouraged to fly the flag and to learn more about the history and meaning of the American flag. Many schools and organizations hold special events on Flag Day, such as flag raising ceremonies, flag trivia contests, and flag-making workshops. Flag Day is a day to celebrate our country and to honor the men and women who have served in the military. It is a day to reflect on the meaning of patriotism and to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of freedom and democracy.

Pacific Park regularly programs the Ferris wheel to display seasonal programing and themed light designs for holidays and special occasions. The Pacific Wheel’s state-of-the-art lighting package was installed in 2016 and can display over 1.6 million different colors and animate patterns and icons in 24 frames per second. The energy efficient LEDs on the face of the Ferris wheel are powered by solar arrays inside Pacific Park. The light programs are curated and designed by Pacific Park staff. Each design is manually animated; some designs can take hours of programming. The aim is to provide fun, high-energy, and sometimes whimsical designs to entertain guests on the Santa Monica Pier and surrounding beaches.

 

---

Feature image courtesy of @land_arch2b