Pacific Park starts 30th anniversary with locals night and new creamery

By AI, Created 9:37 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier will launch its 30th anniversary celebration on May 21, 2026, with a community-focused Locals’ Night, the opening of Sweet Rose Creamery and a Ferris wheel tribute to Santa Monica. The six-day celebration runs through May 26 and highlights the park’s history, community ties and milestone moments.

Why it matters: - Pacific Park is using its 30th anniversary to highlight the Santa Monica community that helped preserve the Pier and support the park’s launch and growth. - The celebration also signals fresh activity for one of Santa Monica’s most visible attractions, with a new tenant opening and several anniversary events.

What happened: - Pacific Park will kick off its 30th anniversary celebration on Thursday, May 21, 2026, with a community-focused Locals’ Night on the Santa Monica Pier. - The anniversary theme is “30 Years of Fun — Built by the Community, Shared with the World.” - The kickoff includes programming with Santa Monica Pier Corporation, Pier businesses and community organizations, including the Santa Monica Police Activities League and the 6th Annual Rick Crocker 5K Challenge. - Sweet Rose Creamery will open at Pacific Park during the Locals’ Night event. - Locals’ Night guests will receive a complimentary scoop as part of the “Any Way You Scoop It” thank-you activation. - The Pacific Wheel will light up with the message “Thank You Santa Monica” during the evening.

The details: - Jeff Klocke, CEO at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, said the park exists because the community believed in the Pier and fought to preserve it. - The celebration will recognize the 1970s “Save the Pier” movement, which helped protect the Santa Monica Pier. - Pacific Park opened on May 26, 1996, as the first amusement park on the Pier since the 1930s. - The 30th anniversary celebration continues with the release of “Sp30tlights: 30 Years of Fun,” a three-part series covering milestones from 1996 to today. - The celebration ends on Tuesday, May 26, Pacific Park’s official anniversary date. - Pacific Park describes itself as LA’s only admission free amusement park. - The park lists 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, Snackville with five food offerings and retail beach shops. - Pacific Park directs visitors to call 310-260-8744, visit pacpark.com, or use Facebook, Instagram and X for additional information and hours.

Between the lines: - The anniversary launch leans hard into local goodwill, which suggests Pacific Park wants the milestone to feel community-owned rather than purely promotional. - Pairing the celebration with a new creamery opening and a Ferris wheel message gives the event both symbolic value and a practical draw for visitors. - The “Save the Pier” reference ties the park’s current identity to a long-running preservation story, reinforcing its role as part of Santa Monica’s civic history.

What’s next: - Pacific Park will roll out the “Sp30tlights: 30 Years of Fun” series in the days before May 26. - The full anniversary celebration culminates on May 26, 2026. - Visitors can expect Pacific Park to continue promoting anniversary programming through its website and social channels.

The bottom line: - Pacific Park is turning its 30th birthday into a public thank-you to Santa Monica, with a local-first launch, a new tenant and a week of anniversary messaging.