OCALA-

The holidays are right around the corner and that means Downtown Ocala will be filled with lights, music a christmas tree among other attractions, but there is one thing that you won't see this year.

"We are use to seeing it every year and now all the kids are going to be wondering where it is," said Arianne Ramirez.

That white giant Ferris wheel in Downtown Ocala during the holidays.

People are already catching on to the fact that there will be no ferris wheel this year and that's because the decorated tree is standing right where the ferris wheel was put for the past two years.

Ramirez of Ocala said her brothers have looked forward to riding the ferris wheel and she describes it not only as a kids attraction, but a romance hot spot.

"My friend got her first kiss on that ferris wheel so, it's really sad it's not going to be there," said Ramirez.

"My best friend last year got in engaged on a ferris wheel. The one here," said Rachael Taylor.
 

Taylor said she doesn't mind the change.

"We can try it out for a year and then after that, we'll pick what likes best," said Taylor.

Last year the Downtown Business Alliance used about $40,000 from a special fund to run the ferris wheel for just over a month.
Janie Pope with the city said they noticed people would visit the ferris wheel and then not come back again.

"I think with this collective weekly event calendar we are going to find that there will be a lot of different activities that different groups of people can participate in," said Pope.

Some of those events include decorating a life- sized ginger bread house, an ugly sweater theme party, an ice sculpture demonstration and more that hasn't been finalzed.
One things for sure, there will be no ferris wheel.

"It's kind of sad because I wanted to ride it this year and I didn't right it before so they took that chance away from me," said Ramirez.

Pope said the DBA's weekly events will cost no more than $18,000. 
The President of the DBA Aaron Campo said if the community speaks out and says they miss the ferris wheel, then he has no problem bringing it back.