4th Fridays at Caribou Shopping Center May through September, join our amazing local businesses for music, specials, artist demonstrations, snacks, treats for the kids, special vendors, and Carousel Rides until 8pm! Date, Time, Location: May 27 June 24 July 22 August 26 September 23 4:00pm – 8:00pm Caribou Village Shopping Center 20 Lakeview Drive Nederland, …
It’s time once again for Kids Out and About Denver’s annual survey of the top 20 places to take kids – check out the 2021 winners here – the Carousel placed #3! Easily nail down your summer bucket list, and find out about all the great family-friendly attractions and events in the Denver Area. It takes just 3 minutes to complete the survey, plus you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card! And don’t forget, …
Monday, May 30 at Noon Each year we honor the men and women who died serving in the U.S. military. The building will be open to all, as we encircle the carousel, and visitors will be invited to remember a fallen veteran with his or her name, and perhaps a brief story. Please join us! The ceremony will begin at 12pm, and last approximately one hour. Brad Goode, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at CU Boulder, will play taps. Then, …
UPDATE – Thanks to all who attended our event – see a slideshow of photos here. Join us for a night out with all the animals! We’re bringing back our annual fundraising event, complete with food and drinks. A silent auction will run from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, with a short live auction of a few items at 7:30pm. Decent Bagel is catering an Italian-style menu, then we’ll end the night with live music and dessert. And of course we’ll …
Save the Date – Animals After Dark Fundraising Gala June 11th! Read More »
April 22 – 25 Join us in Nederland for a great celebration of our planet earth! Wild Bear Nature Center is hosting their annual Wild Earth Day Weekend, full of fun activities for all ages. When you visit the nature center this weekend, you can take part in a climate challenge, interact with exhibits and local informational partners, and maybe you’ll even win a prize! Friday night there is a FREE showing of “Going Circular,” a film exploring how we …
Another winter has passed – yes we still have some snow up here! – and we are enjoying the melting ice and sweet bird songs each morning. That also means that the ground is softening and plants will start sprouting up again soon. (If you would like to volunteer in our garden, for spring clean-up or summer watering, call or email!) Looking Forward As we look towards a busy summer, we are grateful for the gift our visitors bring …
How many visitors can we expect in Town this weekend for Frozen Dead Guy Days??? March 20 we celebrate the International Day of Happiness and World Storytelling by re-opening our Story Catcher!
On February 6, the maintenance crew removed the motor from the carousel for THE FIRST TIME since it was installed over a decade ago. It was quite a job to hoist the engine out and over the carousel deck!
You can now become a member of the Carousel of Happiness and enjoy some awesome perks. See our Membership Plans & Pricing page to sign up!
We had an *almost* white Christmas, and are enjoying winter in the mountains. As folks head up to ski at Eldora, the Carousel awaits to bring them a smile at the end of the day! We hope you and your families enjoyed wonderful holiday time over the last few weeks, and celebrated the gift of together-ness! It was great to see you and your families over Winter Break. In this special time of year, smiles are dancing through the Carousel house …
Adopting one of our unique animals is one of the best ways to support the Carousel and become a part of our family. We hope every smile experienced here turns into countless more beyond our doors! Funds raised by animal adoptions contribute to the maintainance and repair of our century-old carousel and band organ, and help us continue on our mission to inspire happiness. Carousel Animal Adoptions are usually for one year, and you can learn more about regular adoptions at the “Learn More” link below.
Join millions of Coloradoans in giving to support your favorite charities!
Join us on Halloween for an annual tradition… Our animals will be dressed to the nines in their best costumes, ready for trick or treat fun! Come take a ride on the Carousel of Spookiness, complete with spooky jams on the Wurlitzer. Those without costume will pay the normal ticket price of $3. Wear a costume and ride for just $1! Want to win a prize? Enter our costume contest for all ages for your chance to get some Carousel …
Celebrate the fall with great food, live music, and lots of fun! This Sunday, October 3, the Nederland Farmers Market ends the season with a bang, and over 70 vendors, located between First St. & Second St. in Downtown Nederland. See www.nederlandfarmersmarket.org for more info. Stop by the Carousel of Happiness booth to purchase & decorate pumpkins! Pumpkin Decorating! Draw a scary face for Halloween, or make a pretty fall landscape. Bring a larger pumpkin to decorate from the Pumpkin …
That fall chill is in the air… As any leaf peeper knows, witnessing Colorado’s aspen leaves change is one of the best ways to spend the day. Plan your trip to see the beautiful colors that speckle our mountainsides, the peak time to see this amazing color change is coming soon! We just had our first frosty mornings, triggering the trees to prepare for winter. However, the days are still pleasantly sunny, the best time of year in the mountains. …
The Carousel of Happiness will celebrate “Mary Wingate Days” this weekend, Aug. 14-15, with free carousel rides for all. Carousel hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday, and local residents as well as visitors are encouraged to come by for a spin. The event honors Mary Quinlan Wingate, a life-long summer resident of Nederland who was known for her kindness and generosity to others. Wingate worked with the Town of Nederland during her lifetime to create …
Carousel to Offer Free Rides this Weekend in Memory of Mary Wingate Read More »
The Carousel is offering a discount on new animal adoptions during the months of August and September. You can adopt your favorite Carousel animal for just $600 for the initial year (regularly $750) if you make your donation by Sept. 30th. Those who have adopted an animal in the past can re-adopt their animal for $500 per year. Animal adoptions are a terrific gift for a birthday, anniversary or wedding, as well as a special way to honor and remember …
The Carousel of Happiness has been named the #3 Top Spot to take kids in and around Denver for 2021, by readers of Kids Out and About Denver. The Carousel ranked immediately behind the dual powerhouses, Denver Zoo and Denver Museum of Nature and Science, which puts us in good company! (See the complete Top 20 list here.) Make plans to bring your family to the Carousel today!
Carousel visitors are in for a treat! Artist Scott Harrison has carved a new carousel animal – only the second new rideable animal to join the platform since the Carousel’s opening 11 years ago. What is it, you may wonder? A giant, glorious, blue butterfly. The butterfly will only be mountable by small children. But its wings will soar higher than the Bear bench at its side. The carving was inspired by a new novel, On Wings of Wonder, by …
With more than 1,400 votes cast in the Carousel’s spring mayoral election, The Moose swept to a decisive victory, winning 59 percent of the final tally. The Peacock and The Mermaid trailed with 24 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Voting was heavy in the final weekend as supporters took to the streets with their campaigns. Team Moose campaigned with the slogan, “He won’t spin the news or the truth. He’ll work to keep the Carousel spinning.” Nederland Mayor Kris Larsen …
Film About the Carousel Now Available for Streaming! Carving Joy is an award-winning, short documentary film about the origins of the Carousel of Happiness and its founder, Scott Harrison. Produced by Reel Inspired Media, the film debuted at the 2020 Mountainfilm festival and is now available for streaming on Vimeo for $10 per view. Fifty percent of the proceeds, after taxes and fees, will go to support the Carousel, the inspiration for this touching film. The free trailer is posted …
To cast your vote, simply make a donation of any size to the candidate of your choice… Vote as many times as you like through Memorial Day Weekend. The candidate with the most support wins! THE POLLS ARE NOW CLOSED
Bring your sweetheart to the Carousel of Happiness on Valentine’s Day for a special Sweetheart Ride… Buy one ticket and your “sweetheart” rides for free. We’ve hosted numerous weddings and proposals. Your visit could be the start of something special!
Join Mr. Josh of Beanstalk.com on a special safari as he visits Nederland’s own Carousel of Happiness! Thanks to Beanstalk for providing this free, one-hour recorded program for kids ages 3-6. https://vimeo.com/506278475/64d97bc8e9
The Carousel of Happiness is excited to share our 2020 Holiday Exclusive “Bundles of Joy,” curated and specially wrapped for the holidays! Access the items in our online store for local pickup or shipment to your home. If you are ordering a book package, you can specify whether you would like your book signed and personalized, by entering the name and message in the order notes during checkout. “The Stockings Were Hung from the Chimney with Care” – $25 …
The Carousel is pleased to offer a Holiday Animal Adoption Special through the end of 2020. For a $179 donation (paid before the end of the year), you can adopt a Carousel animal through the first quarter of 2021. You will receive an adoption certificate for your animal and a Carousel of Happiness T-shirt in orange or burgundy (please specify size and preferred color). An animal adoption makes a great gift for someone you love—and helps us keep the Carousel …
Colorado Gives Day is coming up quickly, on Tuesday, Dec. 8th. Schedule your donation to the Carousel of Happiness today and help us reach our goal of $80,000 by the end of the year to keep the Carousel spinning for years to come. Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving. Donations are accepted for qualified nonprofits through ColoradoGives.org. Carousel donors of $150 and above will receive access to view …
Celebrate Halloween with us at the Carousel of Spookiness! We are excited that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year and can’t wait to see you!! Our event will be a little different this year as the Carousel animals will not be able to dress in costume, so we are looking to our guests to get creative and come dressed for some spooky fun. Buy one ride, get one free for all who come dressed up for Halloween! Open regular …
This carving is beyond unique! Its scale is seldom seen for a rocking horse, goat or anything else that rocks. The design for this goat dates to the very early 1900’s with Robert Muller, a German immigrant who studied as a young man at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. According to the authoritative website CarouselHistory.com, “ A sample of fine early 1900 carousel horse (mostly) carvings all attributed to the talented Daniel Carl Muller. Muller’s figures are understandably some …
“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” Happy Grandparents Day on Sunday, Sept. 13th! All you grandparents, come take a ride with your grandchildren…Grandparents ride free on Sunday. Sprinkle a little of your magic. Masks required 3 years of age and up. Don’t Delay Joy!
Make plans to stop by the Carousel of Happiness this fall and see the aspen changing colors along the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway. Nederland is a prime viewing area for fall colors, which usually peak in late September/early October. We plan to continue our summer schedule through the “leaf peeping” season so you can enjoy a ride on your favorite carousel animal while visiting the area.
The Carousel of Happiness has been named a Top 3 Family Favorite by Colorado Parent magazine. And, the recognition comes in two categories — Family Day Trip and Birthday Party Spot. Make plans to visit us today!
As part of the Carousel’s 10th Anniversary Campaign, we are discounting Carousel animal adoptions to $600 per year if you adopt an animal by August 31st. And, if you have adopted an animal in the past, you can re-adopt for $500 per year. Animal adoptions include a brass plate with a custom inscription of your choice, which is displayed at the base of your animal. Animal adoptions are a terrific gift for a birthday, anniversary or wedding; as well as …
Celebrate National Carousel Day with a ride on our unique, hand-carved carousel! Experience simple joy, while taking a step back in time to ride this 110-year-old, magical machine. Hours are 10 am-6 pm on Saturday, July 25–and rides are still only $2.
The Carousel has launched an expanded online store to better serve carousel fans during the pandemic. The online store includes more than 40 items from the Carousel Gift Shop, ranging from books to T-shirts to ride tickets. Items can be shipped to your home or arranged to be picked up curbside. Visit www.carouselofhappiness.org/shop/ to peruse the online shelves. Or just click on “Shop” in the menu bar of our webpage. Thank you for supporting the Carousel of Happiness!
As summer approaches and some areas of the U.S. are relaxing stay-at-home restrictions, the Carousel is starting to get questions about when we will reopen. We have compiled the following Q&A for our visitors and will update it periodically as more information becomes available. Is the Carousel closed? Yes. Unfortunately, the Carousel was closed to the public on March 12 and remains closed until further notice. The Carousel Board of Directors decided to take this proactive measure after Colorado’s governor …
On April 26, the Carousel launched a series of band organ concerts for the Nederland community so that residents can enjoy the old familiar sounds of the carousel, and we can continue to share the joy during the Covid-19 pandemic while the carousel is closed. The concerts will take place on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 3 pm in the shopping center parking lot, and feature our 1913 Wurlitzer band organ playing assorted old-time music. Local residents are encouraged to …
In order to be proactive in our response to the spread of the coronavirus, the Carousel closed on March 12 until further notice. We regret any inconvenience and we extend our heartfelt wish that our community stay healthy and safe. We will be engaging our staff in spring cleaning efforts and plan to continue to post messages to our community via our social media accounts during this period. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see what’s happening and stay …
Bring your sweetheart into the Carousel on Valentines’ Day for a special Sweetheart Ride from 4 to 7 pm. Buy one ticket and your “sweetheart” rides for free. We’ll have this sweet hand-painted Looff carousel frame for your photo opps and Valentine’s stickers for the kids all day on Feb. 14. What better way to say “I love you” than a ride on the Carousel of Happiness!
Starting this year, Colorado taxpayers will be able to designate the Carousel of Happiness to receive a portion of their state income tax refund. It’s simple, it’s fast, and it allows you to support what matters to you! To make a donation to the Carousel of Happiness, you will need to enter our name and CCSA registration number, #20083006569, on your Colorado Tax Form 0104. Learn more about this new program supporting our state’s nonprofit organizations by visiting ReFUND Colorado.
Spend your holiday break with us! The Carousel will be open every day through Jan. 6, except for Christmas Day. And we’re expecting a visit from Santa on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 12 to 2 pm. Bring your Christmas lists and enjoy a ride on our Christmas carousel!
Come dressed as a time traveler and celebrate this fun holiday at the Carousel on Sunday, Dec. 8th! Take a time traveler photo with one of your favorite Carousel animals and tag us on social media. We will randomly select a winner to receive a special Carousel surprise! Looking forward to celebrating Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day with you!
Help us raise $15,000 to go toward sustaining carousel operations and sharing happiness for many years to come! Colorado Gives Day offers an easy and secure way to support your favorite nonprofits online. And the funds are boosted by the Colorado First Foundation so your donation goes even further! To donate, visit www.coloradogives.org/CarouselofHappiness to support the Carousel on this widely celebrated day of philanthropy. No need to wait until Dec. 10 either, as donations can also be scheduled early. Your …
Support the Carousel on Colorado Gives Day – Dec. 10 Read More »
The Carousel will be open daily from 11 am to 6 pm for the Thanksgiving school holiday again this year, allowing area families with children out of school to enjoy their days off at the Carousel of Happiness. We are normally closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the winter, but we make an exception for school holiday breaks. That means we will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 25-27, as well as Friday, Nov. 29, to help make the …
Come Take A Spin & Be Grateful on Veterans Day at The Carousel of Happiness – Veterans Ride Free – Monday November 11, 2019…Hours 11AM-6PM And Boulder Canyon Is Open All Day‼️
Trick-or-treaters! Join us on Oct. 31, Halloween night for $2 spooky rides and trick or treat surprises from 4-7 pm. We’ll also be offering hot dogs from 5-7 pm for a donation to the carousel. Our animals will be in costume starting Oct. 24, so be sure to make the Carousel of Happiness part of your Halloween plans.
Join us Saturday, Sept. 7th for an evening of fun, friendship and philanthropy! The celebration begins @ 7 pm, and includes hors d’oeuvres and drinks, live music by The Gael, and a live auction starting @ 8:30 pm. Come dressed to impress — it’s a Ned-style Black Tie. PURCHASE TICKETS HERE Advance Tickets: $45 per individual or $75 per couple At the door: $50 each The ONLINE AUCTION IS NOW LIVE for local as well as remote supporters of the carousel. We …
Animals After Dark Gala: Sept. 7, 7-10 pm at the Carousel Read More »
The Carousel is thrilled to have been accepted as a participant in the King Soopers Community Rewards Program! King Soopers has dedicated more than $2.5 million per quarter for participating registered nonprofits. Now you can support the carousel while buying groceries! ☺️ To use the King Soopers Community Rewards Program: 1. Log into your King Soopers or City Market account* For King Soopers – go to http://www.kingsoopers.com/ For City Market – go to http://www.citymarket.com/ 2. …
On Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Boulder County Kids will celebrate its 25th anniversary at the Carousel of Happiness! Stop in for cake, door prizes and free rides to celebrate this fantastic quarterly guide for children and families in Boulder County.
The Carousel of Happiness has been voted one of the most favored places to take kids in the Denver area! We are thrilled to have been awarded a top spot in the recent Kids Out and About contest. Our visitors ranked us with top attractions such as the Denver Zoo and Denver Museum of Science. Click on the link below to see the full list. > See Kids Out and About Denver ranking
P.O Box 1811, Nederland, CO 80466
The Carousel of Happiness is dedicated to inspiring happiness, well-being, and service to others through stories and experiences.
HOURS
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
Monday through Thursday: 11 am – 5 pm
Last ride of the day at 4:45pm ~ Open 7 days a week!
* Open Late for Fourth Fridays at Caribou Village *
Friday June 24: 10am – 8pm
Call (303) 258-3457 for more information
