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Say Goodbye To The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel With Free Late-Night Rides

By Kate Shepherd in News on Sep 21, 2015 8:55PM

There's no better way to view the nighttime Chicago skyline than a late-night ride on the Navy Pier Ferris wheel, and this weekend is your chance to do it.

As a goodbye sendoff to the current Ferris wheel, Navy Pier will be offering free overnight rides on the wheel starting at 10 p.m. on Sept. 26 and ending at 9:45 a.m. on Sept. 27. The final rides on the Ferris wheel will take place on Sunday with a special fireworks show.

Navy Pier is building a new 196-foot Ferris wheel set to open in Summer 2016.

"While we're saying goodbye to our beloved Ferris wheel that’s been an iconic fixture in Chicago for two decades, it's a sign of continued Navy Pier progress as construction of the new Ferris wheel begins immediately," Marilynn Gardner, president and CEO of Navy Pier, Inc., said in a statement. "Our enhanced new wheel will kick off our Centennial Celebration next summer."

The celebration includes free food for all. From 1p.m. to 4p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, there will be free food samples from future and existing Navy Pier restaurants including Big Bowl, DMK Burger Bar and Fish Bar, Giordano's and other local favorites.