The Stewart Park Carousel, manufactured by the Allan Herschell Company of North Tonawanda, New York, is turning 70 years old, and the Friends of Stewart Park invite the community to celebrate this Saturday afternoon with free rides, crafts, cupcakes, and entertainment.

“The ride was initially brought to the park by Robert L. Cochran along with a miniature train,” said the Friends of Stewart Park in a statement. “It was owned and operated by Cochran and several other concessionaires over the years. Eleanor and Montgomery May made many improvements when they owned it in the 1980s, most notably hiring artist Annie Campbell to paint the 30 horses. In 1998, the Park Foundation donated $75,000 to the City of Ithaca to purchase the carousel, and the City has owned and operated the ride since that time.”

These days, the Stewart Park Carousel is operated Memorial Day to Labor Day, Tuesday through Sunday, plus holidays that fall on Mondays, 11am-7pm. Rides cost $1.

The Stewart Park Carousel. 14850 file photo.

The Friends of Stewart Park has shepherded restoration and upgrade projects for the carousel for the last several years, working “in collaboration with numerous individuals and organizations” over the last several years. That includes hiring local artists to paint the horses, replacing the old chain-link enclosure with an attractive steel fence, building a ramp and wheelchair-accessible chariot so the carousel can be more accessible, and most recently, building a permanent cover over the carousel so the City can “forgo the seasonal disassembly that was hard on the historic ride.”

A similar party six years ago this week celebrated the new fence with free rides. This Saturday’s 70th birthday party will include Nate the Great, carousel-themed crafts, cupcakes, and remarks from Friends of Stewart Park executive director Rick Manning. There will be free rides all day.

The Stewart Park Carousel birthday party is Saturday, June 25 from 2-4pm. It will be moved to Sunday in the event of inclement weather Saturday.

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