It’s lights out for Pacific Park’s world-famous Ferris wheel during Earth Hour 2013

The iconic Ferris wheel joins International landmarks including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London, the Eifel Tower in Paris, Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, and the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Greece, among many others at 8:30 p.m. local time on March 23

3693693048_2d792ce7ce_zTo show their support for environmentally sustainable action, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier joins Earth Hour in “Uniting People To Protect The Planet” with a one-hour, lights out on the world-famous Ferris wheel, except for the wheel rim safety lighting, at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. In 2013, Earth Hour’s “I Will If You Will” concept invites individuals and organizations to challenge others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour.

According to the organization, Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2012 involved hundreds of millions of people in 152 countries across every continent, receiving reports as ‘the
world’s largest campaign for the planet.’

“Pacific Park has made an ongoing commitment to participate in Earth Hour each year to help raise environmental awareness,” says Jeff Klocke, Vice President of Marketing and Administration at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “Pacific Park strives to be a leader locally and throughout the industry for green initiatives. We’ve introduced the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel and the world’s only wind-powered amusement park game, which are just two of many ways we’ve tried to make a positive environmental impact in our community.”

The Pacific Wheel is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel featuring 160,000 energy efficient LED lights that present dynamic, custom, computer-generated lighting entertainment each evening. The eco-friendly, enhanced LED lighting provides 75 percent greater energy savings than most Ferris wheel’s traditional incandescent bulbs.

It’s lights out for Pacific Park’s world-famous Ferris wheel during Earth Hour 2013; Pacific Park introduced the world’s first wind-powered amusement park game, the High Striker, on Oct. 2011. The 25-feet-tall High Striker features a silver-plated bell that sounds each time a guest is strong enough to strike the pallet with a mallet that sends the puck racing to the top. All components of the High Striker are completely wind-powered including the chaser lights with more than 100 bulbs, multiple spotlights and sound system.

And The Winners of The Contest Are….

Last month we hosted the PACIFIC PARK GET CRAZY & CREATIVE INSTAGRAM CONTEST! It was a total success with some of the most amazing submissions! Below you will find our winners, as well as some of the other entries! Think you can get crazy & creative with your Pacific Park Instagram photo? Tag us in your best shot @Pacpark!!! Have a wonderful day everyone and enjoy the amazing weather…Spring is almost here!

Our First Place Winner: @nannebell

Our First Place Winner: @nannebell

Our Runner Up: @nellnett

Our Runner Up: @nellnett

Photo Credit: @nellnett

Photo Credit: @nellnett

Get Crazy & Creative Instagram Contest

Get Crazy & Creative Instagram Contest

Photo Credit: @directorelb

Photo Credit: @directorelb

Photo Credit: @Doghammer

Photo Credit: @Doghammer

Photo Credit: @Doghammer

Photo Credit: @Doghammer

Runner Up: @edenartist

Runner Up: @edenartist

Photo Credit: @nannebell

Photo Credit: @nannebell

Photo Credit: @nannebell

Photo Credit: @nannebell

Photo Credit: @nannebell

Photo Credit: @nannebell

Photo Credit: @nannebell

Photo Credit: @nannebell

PACIFIC PARK’S GET CRAZY & CREATIVE INSTAGRAM CONTEST!

Time for another contest!!! As we have mentioned, people have been getting very creative with their Instagram photos of Pacific Park! Submit your crazy and creative photo of Pacific Park by posting it on our timeline, or tagging us on Instagram at @PacPark while using the hashtag #PacificPark. First Place will win Four Unlimited Ride Wristbands to Pacific Park and the Runner Up will receive Two Unlimited Ride Wristbands. Contest Starts now and ends March 1st, 2013! Good Luck!

Instagram Contest February

A Presidential Day at Pacific Park

It was definitely a day fit for a President at Pacific Park yesterday! And to prove it, we snapped a few shots for your viewing pleasure! Want to feel Presidential? Stop by Pacific Park for the Royal Treatment ;)

A Presidential Day at Pacific Park
West Coaster cruised past Pacific Wheel!
Pacific Wheel: The world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel gives visitors a panoramic view of the Southern California coastline from more than 130 feet above the Santa Monica Pier. Measuring 85 feet, the wheel moves at 2.5 revolutions per minute with intermittent stops to pick up passengers. Features more than 160,000 energy-efficient LED lights that display dynamic, eye-popping computer-generated lighting entertainment in the evenings.
Sea Dragon: A swinging wooden ship with two lifelike dragon heads make passengers feel as if they’re caught in the turbulent seas with the scariest of serpents. Ship moves back and forth in a 180-degree arc.
Riptide Ring Toss: Watch the throwing rings fly! If a plastic ring lands atop one of 187 green, glass bottles, you win a jumbo prize!
Fire Ball: Players use a bowling-style method to secure balls into circular pocket pits, attempting for the maximum amount of points. Your final score may earn you a prize!
The Peaceful Pacific
The Santa Monica Skyline and beach looking incredible as always!
Just another beautiful shot of Pacific Wheel!
Sea Planes: Off they go into the wild blue yonder… families will be flying high together in the all-new Sea Planes as they control the height and speed of ascent of the plane while flying above the pier decking. Brightly colored Crop Duster-style planes take off with up to four children and adults safely and comfortably seated for the family flight.
Inkie’s Wave Jumper: Catch a wave family-style on this pier-top surf ride that rotates in a clockwise motion while riders ‘jump’ up and down, and bounce around, just like riding a wave. Inkie’s Wave Jumper can seat up to 24 children or a combination of 12 children and six adults per ride and has a maximum revolving speed of 6 rpm.
A Presidential Pacific Park Day
There is shopping fun for the family “in store” at Pier Gear with 650 square feet designed with seaside shoppers in mind. Guests will step into a surf-and-sea emporium accentuated by cargo netting and classic surfboards, and can find both popular and extraordinary gifts, from stylish beach wear to Los Angeles Lakers wares to stunning jewelry and crystals. The store also carries everything for an outing to the Santa Monica Pier and nearby beach, from film to sunscreen to towels and more. Souvenir seekers and beach goers will find that perfect gift or necessity at Pier Gear at Pacific Park®.

Valentine’s Day at Pacific Park Will Be The Sweetest

The first 500 couples at Pacific Park receive a Free LED Rose and Chocolate Kisses with their Ferris wheel ride on Valentine’s Day!

The complimentary illuminated rose and kisses sets the mood for a special ride on the Ferris wheel, cited one the most romantic spots in Los Angeles.

From the intimacy of one LED rose light to the sheer excitement of 160,000 LED Ferris wheel lights celebrating Valentine’s Day, Pacific Park treats the first 500 couples with a free Red LED Rose and delicious Chocolate Kisses as they board their romantic Ferris wheel ride on Thursday, Feb. 14 from 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Photo Credit: @BiggLegg

Photo Credit: @BiggLegg

To receive the complimentary rose and kisses, couples simply need to purchase a ticket and go to the Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel entrance and notify the attraction’s operator and Pacific Park will provide the complimentary Valentine’s Day package.

The red LED rose is symbolic in light and love for the special day that also features 160,000 LED lights on the Ferris wheel showcasing a special Valentine’s Day program of red and white colors and patterns to celebrate the holiday.

“Valentine’s Day is a unique opportunity to celebrate the first 500 at 5:30 p.m. with a free rose and kisses that will illuminate the couples’ hearts and senses during the ride,” says Jeff Klocke, Vice President of Marketing and Administration at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “Recognized as one of the most romantic places in Los Angeles, Pacific Park offers Valentine’s Day guests a vista point of the southern California coastline not found anywhere else in the city.”
Westways magazine and AOL Digital Los Angeles cited Pacific Park’s Ferris wheel as one of Los Angeles’ most romantic spots. And Valentine’s Day couples will agree as they soar to heights of 130 feet above the beautiful Pacific Ocean while enjoying views of Catalina Island, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Malibu and Santa Monica Bay.

Pacific Park Celebrates10,000 Facebook Fans with Fantastic Photos!!!

Today was a milestone for Pacific Park, as our Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pacificpark has hit 10,000 Followers! To celebrate this incredible day, we thought this would be a good time to release all of the amazing photos that our fans have shared with us over the last week.

Thank you to all of our phenomenal fans and followers! Pacific Park is so happy to have all of you!!!

What a great way to kick off 2013!

The Roots of Music Kick Off 2013 at Santa Monica Pier TOMORROW!!!

248641_10150199936129962_297420_nThe The Roots of Music will help kick off the old year and ring in the new one by marching from the Santa Monica Pier sign to the west end of the pier tomorrow, Sunday, December 30th at 5 P.M. The band will perform while en route to the west end and play about 10 minutes when settled near/on the amphitheater stairs. So come on down to Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park for great music, fun rides and the best way to ring in the New Year a day early!!!

About The Roots of Music: Roots of Music uses New Orleans’ musical heritage as a stepping stone to changing lives.

The Roots of Music’s mission is to support, teach, and protect at-risk youth through music education, academic support, and mentorship while preserving and promoting New Orleans great musical and cultural heritage. Our aim is to give the youth of our city the resources to live positive, productive, self-reliant lives.

The Roots of Music promotes self-sufficiency, working directly with economically disadvantaged at risk youth in New Orleans, developing the talent of young musicians while helping increase academic achievement and decrease at-risk behavior.

The Roots of Music runs New Orleans’ only free year-round academic and music education program. We provide 140 kids with programming in the areas of music education, academics, positive behaviors, and civic responsibility and life skills.  The program runs after school Monday to Thursday and on Saturdays, and continues to do so throughout the summer vacation.

New Orleans music educators and musicians deliver the music education elements of the program. Positive role models within the community, these educators deliver instruction in life skills and responsible behaviors, working as mentors to our students. Volunteers from Tulane University serve our academic mentoring program, working one-on-one with Roots of Music students for one hour and fifteen minutes per session to provide homework assistance and help with literacy and numeracy.

We fully fund transport to and from the program each day for all our students so that they are able to attend classes. Additionally, at the conclusion of the program each day every student is provided with a nutritious meal.