Naturally, on National Carousel Day
Friends of Balboa Park hosted the 2nd Annual National Carousel Day at the historic Balboa Park Carousel on July 25. The event celebrated the iconic Balboa Park landmark and its unique position in San Diego’s landscape.
In 2017, Friends purchased the historic Balboa Park Carousel, and launched a multi-year, $3 million fundraising capital campaign to restore and complete the purchase of the Carousel. The campaign recently surpassed the $1.2 million mark, thanks to the community’s generosity. To donate to help preserve the historic Carousel, visit https://friendsofbalboapark.org/donate/.
“It has been an honor and a pleasure to be the stewards of this historic carousel for the last 12 months, and it brings us great joy to share this beloved treasure of Balboa Park with the community every day, especially on National Carousel Day,” said Friends of Balboa Park Executive Director John Bolthouse. “We still need the public’s support in funding the carousel’s restoration, and we’re working hard to enhance its profile so that more people enjoy and appreciate what it has meant to San Diego for over a century.”
2nd Annual National Carousel Day Recap:
With more than 4,000 in attendance, the event featured family-friendly entertainment, including the Hullabaloo Band, Kathryn the Grape, Fern Street Circus, J7 Productions, Ms. Twisty, the San Diego Opera’s Words & Music Program at La Maestra Center for Youth Advancement, Creative Dancers 78, antique cars from the San Diego Model A Car Club, face painting, and much more. Food vendors included Nana’s Heavenly Hot Dogs, Famoso Mexican Street Food, fresh-squeezed lemonade from San Diego Lemon Life, Bullseye Kettle Corn, and cotton candy from Get Fluffed Up.
The event was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the county of San Diego, Susan Stone Hayes, Marie Tuthill, San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture, Ed and Kathy Brown, Jim and Carmen Hughes, Hughes Heritage Plaza LLC, and Bob and Beverly Russell.
Carousel History
Located off Park Boulevard and Zoo Place, the Carousel was privately owned for more than 100 years by a few different San Diego families. Nonprofit Friends of Balboa Park purchased the Carousel in 2017.
Friends of Balboa Park is a nonprofit organization that champions and enhances the park through donations and park programs. The group has spearheaded major capital improvement initiatives throughout the park, replacing the carillon speakers in the historic California Tower, restoration of the historic gate houses and lily pond, Adopt-A-Plot, tree dedications, acquiring and maintaining operations of the Balboa Park Carousel, and other programs that facilitate the community’s direct involvement in the enhancement of Balboa Park.
Photos courtesy of Friends of Balboa Park.
