The Morford Family Carousel begins its fourth holiday season on Friday, November 27th, from 4:00 – 9:00 PM. Its familiar home is Town Square Plaza on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Harrison Street in downtown Kent (next to the Rotary Centennial Sphere and the fountains). The carousel will be open Friday through Sunday during the holiday season; hours will vary.
The City of Kent is once again partnering with non-profit organizations that will operate the carousel as a fundraiser. This season they are the Kent-Meridian Filipino-American Club, the Kentwood National Honor Society and the Order of Rainbow for Girls. Proceeds raised from the suggested $1.00 donation per ride will support the organizations’ missions and programs. Musical performances and special holiday surprises are planned to make the carousel both a destination and a family tradition.
The Morford Family Carousel is a classic Venetian-style carousel with 19 beautifully painted, carved horses and three special seats, designed by the famous Bertazzon Carousel Company of Italy. In 2006, the Kent Parks Foundation invited the public to purchase the “naming rights” for individual carousel horses. These funds, along with donations from other sources, helped the Foundation purchase the carousel, which was then given to the City of Kent.
For more information, call 253-856-5110 or visit the City’s website at www.ci.kent.wa.us
[Note: My story on the Morford Family Carousel appears in the December 2009 issue of Kent Magazine with photos by publisher Diana Kramer.]
