A happy 105th
Bushnell Park Carousel celebrates 105th birthday with community event
Dozens of children and families gathered to mark the Bushnell Park Carousel’s 105th birthday with free rides, face painting and crafts, while celebrating the attraction’s special role in Hartford. The carousel was created in 1914, and has called Hartford home since 1974.
HARTFORD — Dozens of children, joined by family members and friends, file from the queue of the Bushnell Park Carousel to climb onto a horse Saturday morning and begin singing “Happy Birthday.” It’s the 105th birthday party celebration for the Bushnell Park Carousel. From free rides on the carousel to face painting and arts and crafts, families celebrated the treasure that is the Bushnell Park Carousel.
“Part of what we’re doing here is thanking the community for supporting us and giving something back to them,” said Louise DeMars, director of the Bushnell Park Carousel. “We provide wholesome family affordable entertainment, and we want to keep it that way.”
The carousel was first created in 1914, and has called Hartford home since 1974. For the last 20 years, the New England Carousel Museum has managed the carou
“We provide wholesome family affordable entertainment,
and we want to keep it that way.”
Louise DeMars, director of the Bushnell Park Carousel
sel and began restoring the monument a decade ago.
“Over the past 10 years, we’ve managed to get her fully restored, except for three horses,” DeMars said.
DeMars said that celebrations of the carousel give the opportunity to develop the next generation of carousel lovers.
“This is our third generation coming,” Jessica Harris said gesturing to her two kids Mia, 17, and Justin, 4, both participating in activities. “I always come back to support anything that Hartford has that attracts people from outside of Hartford. So to me, it’s awesome: anything like this. We need more of this.”
For the last several years, actor Kevin Titus of Canaan has come to the event to portray the role of President Warren G. Harding, the 29th president of the United States, who is believed to have visited the carousel, according to Titus.
“I try to portray and honor things of America,” Titus said. “And this is one of the things that was quite a marvel.”
One of 14 carousels in Connecticut, DeMars said the Bushnell Park Carousel is an “endangered species” as one of only a few wooden antique carousels left. Because of this distinctive difference, educational efforts have an importance.
“If you don’t support it, it’s not going to be here,” DeMars said.
Whether purchasing a $2 ride ticket or purchasing a bag of popcorn, community members can support this historical attraction available at their fingertips.
“I think it’s such a happy place,” DeMars said. “A magic machine.”