July 18, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Lights On for the Ferris Wheel!:

It’s “Lights On” for Pacific Park’s Ferris Wheel last night, celebrating its 20th Birthday with a nearly $1 million new lighting package on the world-famous Ferris wheel that features higher resolution, greater color depth and faster “frames per second” display speed. 

Accompanying the inaugural Ferris wheel lighting reveal is a custom track of music by composers Gabe Sokoloff, Greg Chun and the team at HUM Music in Santa Monica.

In addition to the Ferris wheel’s new lighting package, the birthday celebration runs through Memorial Day weekend beginning Friday to Monday with the first 200 guests riding the Ferris wheel each day receiving a free custom made Lappert’s birthday cake flavored ice cream cone at Scoops Ice Cream and Treats. Pacific Park will also showcase the Ferris wheel’s new high-tech lighting capabilities each evening with a custom display of birthday patterns and designs.

“The Ferris wheel lighting reveal will be a spectacular culmination of 20 great days of celebrating the illuminated gondolas while spotlighting Pacific Park’s and the community’s 20 year history,” said Jeff Klocke, Vice President at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “And the fun is just getting started as we celebrate Pacific Park’s 20th Birthday throughout the holiday weekend.”

Standing 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Wheel’s new 174, 000 LED lights are mounted on the Ferris wheel’s structure including the 40 spokes and two hubs. The illumination on each of the Ferris wheel’s spokes increased from 18 pixels to 64 pixels creating a new lighting package with 2,560 pixels, which is 1,900 pixels more than the previous system.

The solar-powered Ferris wheel’s new lighting package increases colors displayed from the previous 8 to 16.7 million color value combinations, offers higher resolution, greater color depth and faster “frames per second” display speed. 

The Ferris wheel’s new programming and display software upgrades increase imaging speed from 3 to 24 frames per second to display dynamic, custom, computer-generated lighting entertainment.

The new lighting package features state of the art LED components where one RGB LED replaced the individual primary color LEDs, which provides 81 percent greater efficiency and savings on electricity. The previous eco-friendly LED lights already provided 75 percent greater energy savings than most Ferris wheel’s traditional incandescent bulbs. 

Pacific Park’s new Ferris wheel lighting package is produced by Eworks Pro based in Orlando, Fla. Eworks Pro installed the previous lighting system on Pacific Park’s Ferris wheel in 2008, which provided the transition from 5,392 incandescent bulbs to the 160,000 energy-efficient LED lights. 

Pacific Park launched its month-long 20th birthday celebration with a “Lights Off” ceremony on May 5 and then proceeded each evening to illuminate one of the Ferris wheel’s 20 gondolas with a respective year to spotlight a Park milestone, starting with 1996. On Wednesday, May 25 all 20 gondolas will be illuminated in honor of Pacific Park’s 20th Birthday, which sets the stage for the Ferris wheel’s new lighting package reveal. 

In January, Pacific Park began its 20th Birthday commemoration with the unveiling of a new logo and brand platform that includes a new visual identity for its advertising design, collateral development and in-park signage program, among other marketing activities. 

The Park also introduced a new vision statement that reads: “Our purpose is to provide an authentic California amusement experience, where guests of all ages play together in a safe and unrivaled setting.” 

in News
<>Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Film Review: Superman

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

“This movie is packed with storyline, Superman lore, meaningful objects, and action.” writes Kathryn Whitney Boole Rated PG-13129 MinutesReleased July...

Multiple Drug Arrests Reported in Palisades Park in Recent Weeks

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

SMPD Reported Several of the Arrests Between June 29 and July 5 The Santa Monica Police Department reported several drug-related...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

SMPD to Conduct Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation on Friday

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The focus will be on speeding, illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to cyclists or walkers,...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

LAPD Seeks Missing 63-Year-Old Man Known to Frequent Playa Vista

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

His family last heard from him via a group text on June 22 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons...

Santa Monica Offers City-Owned Properties for Affordable Housing Development

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The move aims to address the city’s Regional Housing Need Assessment of 8,895 units, with a goal of producing at...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...