The following is a submission from the Pier Corp.
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier will commemorate Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19, with a special lighting program on the Pacific Wheel. The nine-story Ferris wheel will feature a vibrant blend of red, white, and blue patterns representing the Juneteenth flag, alongside green, red, and gold animations inspired by the Pan-African flag. The display joins a collective tribute from landmarks across Southern California in recognition of this important national holiday.
Juneteenth marks the date in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday with the signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act by President Joe Biden.
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 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.
The Ferris wheel soars nine stories high and lifts riders more than 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean to offer extraordinary views of the Southern California coastline from its location on the internationally popular Santa Monica Pier.
