Hop on for National Carousel Day at the Historic Balboa Park Carousel

Forever Balboa Park will host National Carousel Day at the Balboa Park Carousel on Thursday with free rides, family activities and music.

The event, at the carousel behind Spanish Village near the San Diego Zoo parking lot, includes face painting, circus performers, crafts and local food vendors.

The celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Performers include Kathryn the Grape, the Young Lions Jazz Conservancy, Pasacat and Opera 4 Kids.

Forever Balboa Park acquired the carousel in 2017, and has embarked on several projects to restore the beloved attraction, more than 100 years old.

Volunteers have restored the original animal rides that were hand carved, carefully stripping and re-painting animals to return them to their original splendor.

Balboa Park Carousel rides are timed the old-fashioned way with an egg timer that ensures each ride is 5 minutes long, Music comes from its original military band organ and it runs on its original General Electric motor, installed in 1910 when the carousel was built.

In addition, the carousel has received a Historical Resources Designation from the city of San Diego Historical Resources Board.