Navy Pier is going to offer free Centennial Wheel rides starting tomorrow, courtesy of the fog that ruined the Fourth of July

Chicago's Fourth of July fireworks didn't exactly go off without a hitch. The pyrotechnics were there, but thanks to a stubborn wall of fog rolling in from Lake Michigan, many spectators spent the evening watching little more than colorful flashes glowing behind a blanket of clouds.

Now, Navy Pier is trying to make it up to everyone with a consolation prize that's arguably worth showing up for on its own: free rides on the Centennial Wheel.

Starting tomorrow, visitors can hop aboard the 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel for free beginning at 6 pm every Wednesday through Labor Day. The offer gives guests plenty of time to take in the skyline before sticking around for Navy Pier's weekly summer fireworks show, which begins at 9 pm on Wednesdays. Saturday fireworks will continue as scheduled throughout the season, starting at 10 pm.

This weekend was supposed to be Navy Pier's biggest and longest Independence Day fireworks spectacular ever produced. Instead, dense fog settled over the lake throughout the evening, obscuring much of the display for thousands of people gathered along the waterfront. While some spectators caught brief bursts of color, others reported seeing little more than an eerie glow illuminating the low clouds overhead.

"We are disappointed with the effect fog had on tonight's Independence Day fireworks visibility and understand it impacted our guests' experience," Navy Pier said in a message posted after the show. But rather than blaming the weather and moving on, the Pier decided to offer something tangible in return.

If you've somehow never ridden it, the Centennial Wheel stands nearly 200 feet above the lakefront and offers panoramic views of Chicago's skyline and Lake Michigan from enclosed gondolas. Even without fireworks, it's one of the city's best vantage points, especially around sunset.

Of course, Mother Nature still gets the final say. Clear skies aren't guaranteed for the remaining Wednesday fireworks, but at least this time you'll have something spectacular to look at before the first rocket launches.

If you missed the Fourth of July show (or spent it squinting into a wall of mist), Wednesday might be the perfect excuse for a do-over. Free ride, hopefully better visibility and another chance to catch one of Chicago's signature summer traditions without the fog stealing the spotlight.