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New Years Ferris wheel lighting at the Santa Monica Pier
Published on December 5, 2025
The Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel will be lit celebratory colors on Wednesday, December 31 to Thursday, January 1 in recognition of 2026.
To celebrate the New Year, Pacific Park will display “Happy New Years” in 16 different languages on the Pacific Wheel.
This special program will run all evening on New Year’s Eve and New Years Day
This special lighting event will take place on the evening of Wednesday, December 31 to Thursday, January 1. 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 2026
WHEN:
Wednesday, December 31 to Thursday, January 1
dusk (around 5 PM) to midnight
WHERE:
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
Local NYE events and happenings:
New Year’s Eve at The Georgian Room-
New Year’s Eve belongs to those who appreciate fine dining, atmosphere, and a proper glass raised. Join The Georgian Room for an evening of live musical entertainment, flowing glasses, and celebratory moments that carry you from dinner to the dance floor—and for those staying late, into the new year.
Ring in the New 2026 Year at The Lobster-
Ring in the New 2026 Year! Enjoy an unforgettable celebration at The Lobster, where breathtaking ocean views set the stage for an intimate and inviting atmosphere! Be sure you’re part of this magical evening, make your reservations now!
MASSIVE NYE Beach House Music Festival-
Step into MASSIVE NYE, the first New Year’s Eve Beach House Music Festival to ever take over the iconic 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica!
On December 31, 2025, they are shutting down the promenade and transforming it into a full-blown coastal celebration — a beachfront block party like Los Angeles has never seen.
Reserve your FREE tickets here.
A Friendly Reminder: No Fireworks in Santa Monica
While the lights will be bright, it’s important to note that there are no fireworks in Santa Monica on New Year’s Eve. Instead, the city celebrates with vibrant lighting displays, ocean views, and the joyful energy of the Pier—making for a safe, scenic, and unforgettable way to ring in the New Year.
See the lights from home at www.pacpark.com/live.
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 @pacpark