Veterans Day 2025 Ferris Wheel Lighting on the Pier

Published on November 10, 2025

Join us for the Veterans Day 2025 Ferris wheel lighting at the Santa Monica Pier. Pacific Park will light the Pacific Wheel in red, white, and blue on Tuesday, November 11 in recognition of Veterans Day 2025.

Pacific Park will be celebrating our Veterans with a special lighting of the world famous Pacific Wheel on the Santa Monica Pier. The iconic Ferris wheel will light up the night sky with a stunning 90 foot tall American flag. The lighting program will showcase more than 174,000 computer-controlled LED lights in vibrant patriotic red, white, and blue colors and patterns, creating a high-flying salute visible across the coastline.

Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace — dead or alive — although it’s largely intended to thank living Veterans for their sacrifices. It was originally called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I on November 18, 1918.

WHAT:
Veterans Day Ferris Wheel Lighting on the Santa Monica Pier

WHEN:
Tuesday, November 11
dusk (around 5 PM) to midnight

WHERE:
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

The city of Santa Monica will join the U.S. Army for a Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. on the Santa Monica Pier. Now in its sixth year, the event will feature exciting performances, a Chinook helicopter flyover, a presentation of awards to Palisades Fire recovery heroes as well as remarks from senior military leaders and local elected officials. The ceremony, which will take place on the Pier’s west parking deck, is free and open to the public.

The event program will include:

· Posting of Colors performed by the JROTC cadets from James Monroe High School

· A Chinook helicopter flyover from Coulson Aviation

· National Anthem performance by Master Sergeant Keith Beyer and “God Bless America” performance by Miss USO Heidi-Marie Ferren

· Remarks from retired Army Colonel Otto Padron

· Keynote speech from General Bryan P. Fenton, Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command

· Remarks from Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete

· Remarks from Santa Monica Councilmember and Army veteran Dan Hall

· Presentation of awards to Palisades Fire recovery heroes

· Future soldier swearing-in ceremony by Commanding General of the California Army National Guard Major General Jeffrey Smiley · Free ride tickets for veterans and active military members (courtesy of Pacific Park)

· Free meals for veterans and active military members and information on meal resources (courtesy of Meals on Wheels)

· Music and entertainment provided by 95.5 KLOS (courtesy of Meruelo Media)

About the Veterans Day Ferris Wheel Lighting on the Pier

The Pacific Wheel is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel featuring 174,000 LED lights that are mounted on the Ferris wheel’s 40 spokes and two hubs. The 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.

Can’t make it to the Pier? Experience the Pacific Wheel’s dazzling display from anywhere in the world via the live stream at www.pacpark.com/live.

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Feature image courtesy of @dougbasscomedy