Balboa Park Carousel Reopens With National Carousel Day Celebration
Families and carousel aficionados are invited to celebrate National Carousel Day at the Dorothea Laub Balboa Park Carousel on Tuesday, July 25. National Carousel Day is a FREE community event presented by Forever Balboa Park, offering free carousel rides all day, family friendly activities, and entertainment.
National Carousel Day Entertainment Schedule
Entertainment and activities include a family-friendly DJ, circus performers by J7 Productions, face painting, photo booth, craft activity with Spanish Village Art Center, and activities with the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Food will be available for purchase from local vendors, including Golden State Dogs and Ice Cream, and Toro Churros and Doughnuts.
- 11AM-11:30AM: Kathryn the Grape
- 11:30AM-12:30PM: The Young Lions Jazz Conservatory
- 12:30PM-1:30PM: Mariachi and Folklorico
- 1:30PM-2PM: Pasacat
- 2PM-2:50PM: Opera 4 Kids
The Balboa Park Carousel welcomes riders back to the historic attraction after a months-long restoration project. On National Carousel Day, visitors will notice a new tile roof and a fresh coat of paint in the building’s interior.
Less noticeable are the important structural reinforcements and other infrastructure upgrades completed since last fall that will ensure the Carousel operates for generations to come.
About The Balboa Park Carousel
Built in 1910, the Carousel still runs on its original General Electric motor, and the hand-painted animal menagerie and paintings, military band organ, and brass ring game are original as well. The Carousel was brought to Balboa Park in 1922 and is one of just a few in the United States that still operates as it did more than a century ago.
Forever Balboa Park has owned, operated, and maintained the Carousel since 2017. The Balboa Park Carousel earned a Historical Resources Designation by the City of San Diego’s Historical Resources Board in 2021.
On National Carousel Day 2022, it was officially renamed the Dorothea Laub Balboa Park Carousel in recognition of Laub’s significant support of this beloved community treasure.
See you there!
National Carousel Day 2023 is made possible by Forever Balboa Park, Heritage Architecture & Planning, Mark Sauer Construction, Inc., and many individual supporters.
The Carousel is located at 1889 Zoo Place, San Diego, CA 92101.
For more info and updates on the Balboa Park Carousel, visit here.
See you there, San Diego!
