By Daily Press staff
Pacific Park, located on the Santa Monica Pier, has announced that its world-famous Pacific Wheel, the only solar-powered ferris wheel ride in the world, will be adorned in glistening blue lights this month in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles and their holiday season campaign, “A Season of Wishes.”
At a lighting ceremony, scheduled for Monday, Nov. 21, at Pacific Park, a wish-child of the Foundation will “flip the switch,” turning on 6,000 blue lights affixed to the 130 foot-tall landmark Ferris wheel. Coinciding with the blue lighting of a number of Southern California landmarks and institutions as part of “Blue Monday,” the first full day of “A Season of Wishes,” the Pacific Wheel will shine bright for children’s wishes until Nov. 28.
“Historically, there have been only a handful of occasions in which the 6,000 bulbs located on the Pacific Wheel have changed from their traditional multi-colored scheme,” said Jeff Klocke, director of marketing for Pacific Park. “Clearly, displaying support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the dreams, hopes and wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions is such an occasion.”
At 130-feet above the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Wheel reaches nine stories high to offer expansive views. The Pacific Wheel opened along with Pacific Park in May 1996 and was converted to solar power in November 1998, generating more than 71,000-kilowatt hours of renewable power from the sun’s rays alone. Following the lighting of the Pacific Wheel, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles will embark on a holiday season campaign to grant an unprecedented number of wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions and to bring greater awareness to the Foundation’s 25th year of making wishes come true. For “A Season of Wishes,” the Foundation is teaming up with local and regional businesses and civic leaders to implement a six-week celebration, beginning in late November, featuring high-profile events, family activities, celebrity involvement and the granting of children’s wishes.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 15, 2005. Read the original PDF.