Pacific Park Holiday Lights

The Ferris wheel has some 160,000 energy-efficient LED lights that flash patterns every 15 seconds in holiday-themed shapes.  (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)

The amusement park ride soars 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean.  (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)

The images on the wheel are generated by Virtual Wheel, a software program designed specifically for this Ferris wheel by EWorkspro in Orlando, Fla.  (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)

The Ferris wheel opened in May and is solar powered. The original Ferris wheel was auctioned off on EBay the month before for $136,000. The buyer plans to refurbish and rebuild it in Oklahoma City.  (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)

“No other Ferris wheel in the world has this LED lighting system right now,” says Dana Wyatt, the designer and director of operations for Pacific Park who programs the wheel lights. “I know we are only scratching the surface here with this program.”  (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)

“You see it cruising the coast along PCH, on the background in newscasts and on our webcam,” says Jeff Klocke, director of marketing for Pacific Park. “It creates a sense of ownership with people and reflects the true spirit of Southern California.”  (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)