Pacific Park’s World-Famous Ferris Wheel Goes Dark During Earth Hour

The iconic Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel in Los Angeles joins other world-famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Greece, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London, Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, the Great Wall of China, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, among others at 8:30 p.m. local time on March 26.

On Saturday, March 26 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.

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier joins Earth Hour as the world-famous Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel, will “Go Dark” except for the wheel rim safety lighting, from 8:30-9:30 p.m. The Pacific Wheel is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel. The Pacific Wheel Earth Hour event can also be viewed online at https://www.pacpark.com/live.

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.

“Pacific Park has supported Earth Hour since its inception and echoes its sustainability, climate, and environmental messaging and initiatives throughout the world,” said Nathan Smithson, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “From solar-power and wind-power to the power of grassroots efforts, we are committed to being the best environmental partner possible with our team members and community to globally working with national companies and international organizations.”

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 a 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 present 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.

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, LA’s only admission-free amusement park, offers 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, an oceanfront food plaza, and retail beach shops. In addition to the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, the Pacific Wheel, Pacific Park’s signature rides include The West Coaster, a steel roller coaster that races 55 feet above Santa Monica Bay; and Inkie’s Air Lift Balloon Ride, the high-flying, family-sharing kids’ ride. For additional information and hours of operation, call 310-260-8744, visit pacpark.com, and go to Facebook.com/pacificpark, Instagram.com/pacpark, or Twitter.com/pacpark.