Kids’ Day at the Carousel, featuring free rides for all, will be held on May 23. Sponsored by Hobby Horse Arts, Kids’ Day is one of a variety of public and private events held by A Carousel for Missoula in celebration of its 20th anniversary in 2015. Each year, the Carousel offers free rides on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend as a birthday gift to the community. Extra activities are planned to make the Carousel’s 20th Kids’ Day a special one.
A Kids’ Track Meet will take place in the grassy field to the west of Dragon Hollow from 8:30 to 9:30am. Children from preschool through fifth grade are invited to participate in a variety of fun and challenging events. Preregistration is required and there is a $12 fee for each participant. Participants will receive a t-shirt and prizes. The Track Meet is sponsored by MISMO Gymnastics and the Missoula Department of Parks and Recreation.
At 9:30, children will lead a parade to the permanent stage near the Caras Park pavilion for a short welcome to the community, and will then lead the crowd back to the Carousel, for free rides from 10am to 7pm. Vendors selling glitter tattoos, photo balloons, cotton candy and other special treats will be on hand on the Carousel plaza and in the New Park parking lot throughout the day. The Carousel’s concession stand will be open, and Pepsi products will be on sale for half the regular price.
Volunteers are needed to help with the Track Meet and some fun activities happening on the Carousel’s plaza. Anyone interested in volunteering or registering a child for the Track Meet, or in being a vendor for Kids’ Day, is encouraged to call the Carousel at 549-8382 for more information.