Pacific Wheel Lit to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day

Published on September 14, 2024

On September 14–16, the Pacific Wheel will be lit to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day. The lighting event coincides with the City of Santa Monica’s month-long celebration led by the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles. 

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier is proud to join the City of Santa Monica in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. This highlights the rich diversity of Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx communities. In collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, Pacific Park will also commemorate ‘Grito de Independencia’ and Mexican Independence Day with vibrant light shows on the iconic Pacific Wheel.

Each evening from sunset (approximately 7 p.m.) to 12:30 a.m., from September 14 to 16, the Pacific Wheel will be lit to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day. The Ferris wheel will showcase festive floral designs in vibrant colors like yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue. It will also feature a stunning light show with red, green, and white patterns.

Visitors can enjoy these spectacular light displays from various vantage points, including the Santa Monica Pier, Palisades Park, beachside, or online through Pacific Park’s live Ferris wheel camera at pacpark.com/live.

WHAT:
Special Lighting of the Pacific Wheel for Mexican Independence Day & Hispanic Heritage Month 2024

WHEN:
Saturday, September 14 to Monday, September 16
dusk (around 7 PM) to midnight each night

WHERE:
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

“Pacific Park welcomes the opportunity to work with the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles to celebrate Grito de Independencia and Mexican Independence Day,” said Nathan Smithson, Senior Director of Business Affairs at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “We look forward to showcasing the Ferris wheel with a light show featuring red, green, and white patterns and a 90-foot-tall animated Mexican flag.”

City Hall Lighting for ‘Grito de Independencia’ and Mexican Independence Day

Additionally, the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles will host celebrations for ‘Grito de Independencia’ and Mexican Independence Day at Los Angeles City Hall. The building will be illuminated in the colors of the Mexican flag.

“We are thrilled to collaborate once more with Pacific Park in celebrating these significant dates in Mexican history,” said Ambassador Carlos González Gutiérrez, Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles. “Honoring our history in this city is essential for future generations.”

History of Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the culture and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The City of Santa Monica extends this celebration to all Latin Americans. This recognition began in 1968 when President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation designating the week of September 15-16 as National Hispanic Heritage Week.

In the early hours of September 16th, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called for an uprising. He urgently rang the bell of the parish church of Dolores in Guanajuato, Mexico. This call, which gathered the inhabitants in the square urging the people of Dolores to take up arms, is known as the Grito de Independencia. Since 1896, celebrations in all Mexico take place on the night of September 15 with a ceremony that commemorates the famous ‘Grito de Independencia.’

Watch the promotional video here.

The Pacific Wheel, the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, features 174,000 LED lights mounted on 40 spokes and two hubs. Its lighting system boasts 16.7 million color value combinations. The eco-friendly LED lights offer 81 percent greater energy savings compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. The Ferris wheel stands nine stories high, lifting riders more than 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean. This provides extraordinary views of the Southern California coastline.

About the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles
The Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles is the largest Mexican consular representation abroad. It covers the 88 cities within Los Angeles County. Our mission is to provide free assistance and guidance, and protect the dignity, rights, and interests of Mexicans. We support those facing labor mistreatment or human rights violations. The consulate also issues travel documents such as Mexican passports and identification cards.

Image courtesy of @plaztikz0ul