SANTA MONICA, Calif., (May 27, 2008) – Bright lights, big wheel is the theme of Pacific Park’s all-new $1.5 million Ferris wheel reveal beginning at 8:30 pm on Wednesday, May 28 at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier.

Community members attending the lighting ceremony will find the best vantage point in the upper parking lot adjacent to Pacific Park. Following the lighting ceremony, all guests may ride the all-new Ferris wheel for free from approximately 9:15 pm to midnight. Pacific Park will also provide free popcorn, cotton candy and live music for everyone’s enjoyment.

“We look forward to sharing the all-new Ferris wheel relighting ceremony and dedication with the community,” says Jeff Klocke, director of marketing and sales at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “Everyone is encouraged to come to Pacific Park and join us for the festivities on Wednesday, May 28.”

In addition, Pacific Park will present Special Olympics Southern California with a check for $65,000 from the proceeds of the eBay auction of Pacific Park’s original Ferris wheel.

This community event will also feature local dignitaries and business leaders gathered together to dedicate the all-new Pacific Wheel including Santa Monica Mayor Herb Katz, Santa Monica City Council Members, and Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Misti Kerns, among others.

The first lighting of the all-new Ferris wheel will be showcased by a pyrotechnics show by Pyro Spectaculars by Souza who has created fireworks shows for numerous Super Bowls, Summer and Winter Games, the Statue of Liberty 100th Anniversary tribute and other theme parks including Disneyland, Disney World and Six Flags.

The all-new Ferris wheel lighting and pyrotechnics show will be synchronized to music further enhancing the Ferris wheel’s grand reveal.

Once illuminated, the Pacific Wheel will add sparkle to the Southern California coastline with 160,000 energy-efficient LED lights providing dynamic, computer-generated lighting entertainment each evening. The enhanced LED lighting will also provide 75 percent greater energy savings than the previous incandescent bulbs. With the adaptation of its solar-power application, the all-new Pacific Wheel will continue to be the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel.

An exciting component of the community event will be the use of “Close Proximity Pyrotechnics.” This fireworks product is a self-consuming application that has no chemical or burning debris falling to or coming in contact with the ground.

The all-new $1.5 million Ferris wheel was manufactured by Chance Morgan Inc. in Wichita, Kan., and stands 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean, features 20 gondolas with a maximum six riders per car, accommodating up to 600 riders per hour.

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, LA’s only admission-free amusement park, will be in full operation following the ceremony. The Park offers 12 amusement rides, 21 midway games and an oceanfront food plaza. For information and hours of operation, call (310) 260-8744 or visit pacpark.com