Celebrating 10 years of magic with the Kingsport Carousel
The Kingsport Carousel will be celebrating in style later this summer as the iconic attraction turns 10 years old!
To celebrate this milestone event, Kingsport Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsport have several special projects and events taking place later this year, including:
- A mural in the hallway leading to the Kingsport Carousel.
- Specialty merchandise will be available in the gift shop.
- Six painted and decorated fiberglass carousel horses to be debuted during the Kingsport Arts Festival in May.
- A social media campaign across all of our channels.
- A birthday party at the Kingsport Carousel (details coming soon!)
“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. “Be sure to follow the Kingsport Carousel on social media for updates and more information about our 10th birthday celebration.”
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.
