By Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine cut the ribbon today on the new Ohio Children’s Carousel at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus, joined by Carousel and Carvings Founder and President Todd Goings, Ohio State Fair Executive Director Adam Heffron, and hundreds of guests.
The Ohio Children’s Carousel is one of many new projects that fairgoers will enjoy for the first time this year as the result of strategic planning that began in 2019 with the Expo 2050 Task Force to build better experiences at the state fairgrounds.
Governor and First Lady DeWine were personally involved in the design of the carousel, a tribute to Ohio’s children and the heart, history, and heritage of Ohio.
Thirty carousel characters include fair animals such as a goat, pig, sheep, llama, rooster, rabbit, steer; native Ohio animals such as a bison, white-tailed deer buck, bobcat, river otter, box turtle, beaver, monarch butterfly, bald eagle, trumpeter swan, and cardinal; and horses that represent parts of Ohio’s history.
“Fran and I think the new, permanent carousel will be a central gathering place for families at the Ohio State Fairgrounds,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “We created a carousel that is more than a ride. It’s a journey through the Buckeye State, and we think this hand-carved masterpiece will help Ohioans build memories for generations.”
The Ohio Children’s Carousel also has two chariots. The Ohio Woodland Creatures Chariot features woodland creatures and native Ohio flowers and plants. The Storybook Chariot depicts artwork by Ohio artist Loren Long and represents the importance of reading and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, the free book program for children under the age of five in Ohio. First Lady DeWine has championed the Imagination Library, working to expand the statewide program and increase enrollment.
“We currently have more than 428,000 Ohio children receiving a free Imagination Library book in the mail every single month, which the research shows will help more children become ready for kindergarten,” said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine.
“It makes sense that a storybook theme is part of this magical experience, along with Ohio’s state flag, state seal, state bird, state flower, and many key Ohio places and moments in history.”
The Carousel includes the names of all 88 counties, as well as twelve rounding boards depicting scenes such as Clifton Mill, Serpent Mound, the Ohio State Fair, Neil Armstrong on the Moon, and the Wright Flyer III over Huffman Prairie. There are twelve other inner façade murals that depict Ohio landmarks such as Marblehead Lighthouse, Freedom Stairway, Old Man’s Cave, Canton’s Palace Theatre, and Fountain Square.
With more than three decades of experience in the carousel field, Todd Goings led the team at Carousels and Carvings that designed and created the Ohio Children’s Carousel in-house at its headquarters in Marion, Ohio. It’s the only manufacturer in the United States that can build new carousels and restore antique carousels in-house.
“It’s been an honor for every member of our team – including the carvers who shaped the animals and chariots, the artists who painted everything, and the machinists who made the carousel go around – to create this carousel in our home state,” said Todd Goings, Founder and President of Carousels and Carvings. “Carousels are unique pieces of art, because riders get to interact with the art – and that’s where the magic comes in.”
“Ohio is special in that I can’t think of any other fair that has its own custom carousel,” said Ohio State Fair Executive Director Adam Heffron. “The Carousel creates an exciting new centerpiece for our fairgrounds for many years to come.”
The Ohio Children’s Carousel opens to the public on Wednesday, July 29. The ride costs $3. Adults standing alongside children are free. Every rider on a seat or chariot must have a ticket to ride.
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