Historic Carousel Reopens In Newark–And It’s Giving Out Free Rides

NEWARK, NJ — A historic carousel is reopening in Newark on Friday, and it will be giving free rides for the rest of the year.

The Military Park Carousel will reopen with a celebration from 2 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 23 at Military Park, 51 Park Place.

The Newark City Parks Foundation will be sponsoring free carousel rides for the public, beginning at the reopening and continuing through the end of 2026. It will operate with an attendant on duty Thursdays and Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.

According to city officials, the carousel is deeply intertwined with local history:

“The carousel was designed specifically for Newark’s Military Park. It was built by Carousels and Carvings of Marion, Ohio, with engineering provided pro bono by Thornton Tomasetti, and was gifted to the City by Newark native and philanthropist Ray Chambers. Its 16 horses each pay tribute to a horse connected to Newark’s history. From its earliest planning, the carousel was intended to give children and families a way to encounter that history through art, play and storytelling, rather than to serve only as an amusement ride. A signature feature of the downtown landscape, it appears in Military Park’s logo.”

“This reopening represents so much more than the revitalization of a historic landmark at the heart of our city’s downtown – and I’m grateful to everyone who helped bring these horses to life again,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“Today marks the return of a piece of Military Park’s identity and a celebration of Newark’s history and public spaces,” Newark City Parks Foundation executive director Marcy DePina agreed.

“I am elated to announce that the horses are ready, the music is returning, and that it is time for the Military Park Carousel to ride again,” DePina said.

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