MANSFIELD, Ohio – After more than two decades, the whimsical melodies of Richland Carrousel Park continue to be a staple in downtown Mansfield. For co-director Sharon Bishop, it’s become the soundtrack of her life.
“I’ve been here four years, but I’ve worked here before years ago,” she remembered. “So it was like coming back home.”
This weekend, Richland Carrousel Park will celebrate the nostalgia and tradition the carousel has brought to generations of Mansfield residents with its 24th anniversary celebration on Aug. 29. From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. the park will come alive with activities fit for all ages.
“A lot of it is kid-centered, but of course riding the carousel is for all ages,” said Bishop. “We’ll have families doing a lot of family things.”
Starting at 11 a.m. the Carrousel Grill will open selling hot dogs and bratwursts, along with soda, chips and popcorn. Various flavors of Prison Break Soda, Richland Carrousel Soda and cotton candy will also be available for families to enjoy around the park’s picnic tables.
In addition to food, there will be plenty of entertainment on Saturday. “Stik-man” Greg Musille will be at the carousel to perform, and prizes will be given away every hour to one lucky rider on the carousel. There will be a bean bag toss and basketball toss for a donation, with prizes for the winners, and every time Pirate Joe steps out of the pit to ride the carousel that means free rides for everyone.
Bishop said what she’s always loved most about Richland Carrousel Park is the atmosphere.
“I love the fact that it’s a fun place to be, everybody comes in with the right attitude,” she said. “They come here to have a good time, the children love it; the only time you hear a child cry is because they don’t want to leave. The parents enjoy it, too, there’s always something to watch and see.”
The Richland Carrousel Park gift shop will also be a part of the celebration, with a 24 percent off sale on select items. One particular items in the gift shop that has always been a fan favorite will go home with a lucky winner: Freckles, the four-foot plush giraffe.
“Oh, Freckles is magnificent,” said Bishop. “The kids just love him, and you can’t help it, he’s just one of the cutest stuffed animals we’ve had.”
After a contest to name him, it’s now time to find Freckles a home. The Carrousel will hold a raffle for $1 per raffle ticket or six for $5 and at the end of the birthday celebration on Saturday, a name will be drawn to bring Freckles home. Winners need not be present to win.
Richland Carrousel Park houses the first wooden carousel built since the 1930s, hand-carved and hand-painted by Carousel Works in Mansfield. Bishop said after 24 years in downtown Mansfield, the park is still expanding and moving forward.
“We have upgraded so many things here – where you see other things maybe going down, this is the one thing that seems to be going up,” she said. “And downtown is growing, it’s wonderful downtown. So I think that goes hand in hand, we’re all working together.”
“I love the fact that it’s a fun place to be, everybody comes in with the right attitude,” co-director Sharon Bishop said.
