📅 May 16–18, 2025 | 📍 The Carousel Museum – Bristol, CT
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend filled with art, history, innovation, and community as carousel lovers from across the country come together for The Carousel Museum’s first-ever national conference! Whether you’re a lifelong enthusiast or just discovering the beauty of carousels, this event will educate, engage, and inspire.
✨ Event Highlights:
🎟 Friday Evening – Kickoff & Community
Meet & Greet with carousel and amusement park owners, artists, and fellow preservationists
A curated tour of the museum’s stunning galleries
Delicious catered dinner surrounded by antique carousel animals and rare artifacts
🎨 Saturday – A Full Day of Immersion
Experience a carousel lover’s dream day, including:
🎤 Inspiring Lectures & Panels with Our Growing Lineup of Experts:
Tobin Fraley – Carousel historian and author
Barbara Fahs Charles – Historic carousel preservationist
Brian Morgan – Carousel researcher and curator
John Blais – Slater Park Carousel operations and preservation
Bob Yorburg – Master woodcarver and restoration expert
Roger Wiegand – Mechanical music builder & organ restorer
Donna Woolcott – Master painter
Cate Mahoney – Carousel horse identification expert
Morgan Fippinger – Executive Director, The Carousel Museum
Katie Abigail Bassett – Marketing and Communications Manager, special exhibit curator
🎨 Live Painting Demo – Watch Donna Woolcott work her magic restoring carousel figures by hand
🐴 Horse Identification Workshop – Learn from Cate Mahoney how to spot styles, makers, and details
🧠 Panel Discussions – Q&As and insights from leading carvers, historians, artists, and preservationists
🔍 The Illions Puzzle Exhibit – A special hands-on experience exploring mystery and history
🛠️ Restoration Demos – Tour our working restoration studio and meet the artisans behind the magic
🎡 Sunday – Step Into History at Lake Compounce
Join us for a private guided tour of Lake Compounce, the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the U.S.—home to one of the nation’s most stunning historic carousels. Stick around for a fun-filled afternoon enjoying the park’s rides and attractions!
📝 Registration Details:
Full Conference: $250
Museum Members: $200
Saturday Only: $150
Saturday Only (Members): $100
➡️ Register now: www.thecarouselmuseum.org/conference
📞 Or call us at (860) 585-5411 x105
Space is limited—don’t wait to secure your spot!
🏨 Lodging:
We’ve partnered with the DoubleTree Hilton – Bristol, CT to offer a discounted rate of $199/night just 2 miles from the museum.
🏨 Room Block Link:
https://group.doubletree.com/j0jt0i
🎠 Whether you come for the craftsmanship, the history, the music, or the people, this weekend promises to be a celebration of everything that makes carousels magical. Come ride through history with us—we can’t wait to welcome you!
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