Slater Park Carousel celebrates National Merry-Go-Round Day, RI hosting national conference

The Pawtucket Parks and Recreation Division in collaboration with the Friends of the Slater Park Looff Carousel organization will be celebrating National Merry-Go Round Day on Tuesday, July 25 at the Slater Memorial Park Looff Carousel. On this day only, the carousel will be providing free rides to all visitors throughout the day from 11 am – 8 pm.

The Friends of the Looff Carousel, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, will have a welcome booth at the carousel from 3 pm – 8pm, where they will be selling specially designed Looff Carousel Christmas ornaments, trivets, coasters, mugs, magnets and other items. The profits from all merchandise found at the welcome tent or within the carousel, directly support the ongoing operation and restoration efforts of the carousel.

Additionally, an estimated 20 artists throughout the Blackstone Valley will be at Slater Park to also join in the celebration. The artists will be scattered throughout the grounds of Slater Memorial Park, including the Potter Casino, home of the RI Watercolor Society and the historic Looff Carousel between noon and 2 pm. The Plein Air Painting event is sponsored by the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and Volunteers of the National Park Service.

Lastly, two-time Grammy award winning artist and Slater Park favorite, Bill Harley, will be performing as part of the weekly scheduled Slater Park Children’s Performance Series from 6 pm – 7 pm. Bill Harley is recognized internationally by audiences and peers as one of the finest performing storytellers in the country through music and books.

July 25 is chosen as National Merry-Go-Round Day because it coincides with the day when the first U.S. patent for the modern carousel was given to William Schneider of Davenport, Iowa in 1871. The Slater Park Looff Carousel is a nationally-recognized carousel built by Charles I. D. Looff in 1895 and moved to Slater Memorial Park in 1910. The Slater Looff Carousel is currently open daily through August, weather permitting, from 11 am – 5 pm with the exception of being closed on Wednesdays. Details regarding operational hours can be found on the Slater Park Looff Carousel Facebook page.

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WARWICK hosts 50th Anniversary of the National Carousel Association in September

From September 20-23, Rhode Island will host the 50th Anniversary conference of the National Carousel Association which will be based at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI. The group will be visiting the 9 area carousels as well as The Carousel Museum in nearby Connecticut.

The 2023 convention, Golden Jubilee! – For 50 years now, The National Carousel Association has been working to keep America’s remaining carousels in operation. Through a wide range of programs and projects, the NCA has participated in the restoration and preservation of many of the antique carousels in operation in our country today.

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