Celebrating 10 years of magic with the Kingsport Carousel
The City of Kingsport would like to invite the community to celebrate a decade of joy, artistry and hometown pride at the Kingsport Carousel’s 10th birthday bash later this month.
The birthday is scheduled to take place on July 19 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kingsport Carousel (350 Clinchfield Street). The event is free and open to the public.
Enjoy free carousel rides all day (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and a variety of activities, including crafts, games and other birthday surprises. Several food vendors will be on hand in case you need a tasty treat.
The carousel will be unveiling its new, 10 year birthday animal, visitors can enjoy the recently completed mural in the hallway and be able to purchase new merchandise in the gift shop.
“The Kingsport Carousel is one of the most magical places in our community and we’re excited to invite everyone down to help us celebrate its 10th birthday,” said Special Event and Cultural Arts Manager Kristie Leonard. “Whether you’ve ridden the carousel once or 100 times, we welcome you to come down and help us celebrate this special event.”
The Kingsport Carousel first opened to the public in July of 2015 following a six-year journey, going from one man’s visionary idea to a magical reality.
The project began as a dream of the late Gale Joh, who grew up in Binghamton, N.Y. — the “Carousel Capital of the World.” After Joh died in 2010, his widow, former Alderwoman Valerie Joh and local volunteer Reggie Martin ramped up the project and shepherded it forward.
More than 300 volunteers, woodcarvers and painters spent five years and countless hours carving and painting animals, refurbishing a donated 1956 vintage Herschell carousel frame from the Beardsley Zoo of Bridgeport, Conn., and drafting plans to open a traditional carousel adjacent to the Kingsport Farmers Market.
The carousel features 32 wooden riding animals and two chariots, 24 rounding boards depicting notable sites within the city and 24 hand-carved “sweep” animals around the top of the ride
Since opening in July 2015, the carousel has hosted more than 500,000 riders.
The carousel is open to the public year-round and all rides are $1. The carousel is currently open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
