"The Pawtucket Parks and Recreation Division in collaboration with the Friends of the Slater Park Looff Carousel organization will once again be celebrating National Merry-Go Round Day on Tuesday, July 25 at the Slater Memorial Park Looff Carousel. On this day only, the carousel will be providing free rides to all visitors throughout the day from 11 am – 8 pm. This is the first National Merry-Go-Round celebration taking place in Slater Park since 2018 and 2016.
The Friends of the Looff Carousel (a non-profit 501(c)3 organization) will have a welcome booth at the carousel from 3 pm - 8pm, where they will be selling specially designed Looff Carousel Christmas ornaments, trivets, coasters, mugs, magnets and other items. The profits from all merchandise found at the welcome tent or within the carousel, directly support the ongoing operation and restoration efforts of the carousel.
Additionally, an estimated 20 artists throughout the Blackstone Valley will be at Slater Park to also join in the celebration. The artists will be scattered throughout the grounds of Slater Memorial Park, including the Potter Casino, home of the RI Watercolor Society and the historic Looff Carousel between noon and 4 pm. The Plein Air Painting event is sponsored by the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and Volunteers of the National Park Service.
Lastly, two-time Grammy award winning artist and Slater Park favorite, Bill Harley, will be performing as part of the weekly scheduled Slater Park Children’s Performance Series from 6 pm – 7 pm. Bill Harley is recognized internationally by audiences and peers as one of the finest performing storytellers in the country through music and books.
July 25 is chosen as National Merry-Go-Round Day because it coincides with the day when the first U.S. patent for the modern carousel was given to William Schneider of Davenport, Iowa in 1871. The Slater Park Looff Carousel is a nationally-recognized carousel built by Charles I. D. Looff in 1895 and moved to Slater Memorial Park in 1910. The Slater Looff Carousel is currently open daily through August, weather permitting, from 11 am – 5 pm with the exception of being closed on Wednesdays. Details regarding operational hours can be found on the Slater Park Looff Carousel Facebook page.:
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