Community Corner
Skokie Man Is Millionth Rider Of Navy Pier's Centennial Wheel
After taking the 1,000,000th ride on a Ferris wheel, a Skokie man could take millions more for free.
CHICAGO, IL — A Skokie resident has been awarded several prizes after becoming the millionth rider of Navy Pier's Ferris wheel Thursday.
Roy Canares won a lifetime of free rides on the Centennial Wheel, which opened last year to commemorate the pier's 100th anniversary.
Canares, who was hosting family visiting from Toronto, Canada, was also provided with 100 wheel ride tickets for a charity of his choice and a special Navy Pier gift package, according to a spokesperson for the pier.
Find out what's happening in Skokiefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
To mark the occasion of Canares' notable ride, the pier offered all visitors two hours of free rides (normally $10-$15.)
Navy Pier offering free rides on its Centennial Wheel to celebrate a major milestone! https://t.co/jzLzxdX4de pic.twitter.com/gKMZj2Cwqe
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) May 25, 2017
Prior to the one millionth rider announcement, the Navy Pier presented a preview of its free summer Live on the Lake! music and dance series. That series features Sunday performances from the Old Town School of Folk, Wednesday shows presented by Buddy Guy's Legends and Thursday dance performances as part of Pier Dance at the beer garden.
Find out what's happening in Skokiefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Navy Pier is owned by the taxpayer-backed government agency Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority ("McPier"), which also owns the McCormick Square campus, and it is leased for $1 a year to a nonprofit (Navy Pier Inc.) established in 2011.
It says this spring has been the busiest in its history. It is currently involved in a legal dispute with a union after changing its security contractors.
Top photo | Navy Pier President & CEO, Marilynn Gardner (far left), awards Roy Canares (third from left), of Skokie, with a gift package, a lifetime wheel pass and 100 tickets for a single charity of his choice. | Danielle Dolan, Heidi Zeiger Photography
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