Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany

Trick or Treat at the Scare-o-sel!
2025-10-31 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Albany Carousel, 503 1st Street W, Albany, OR, 97321, United States
Dress in your best garb and join us for a family friendly spooky night of fun!

We will have our candy handout (while supplies last) and some spooktacular costume contests!

Halloween Costume Contest Rules

Guidelines for a Fair and Fun Competition

To ensure a fun and safe environment for all participants, please review and follow the
rules outlined below for our Halloween Costume Contest.

Eligibility
* All ages are welcome to participate.
* Individual and group entries are permitted. Groups must register together.
* Employees or judges are not eligible to compete.

Costume Guidelines
* Costumes must be family-friendly and appropriate for all ages. No excessive
gore, nudity, or offensive content is allowed.
* Homemade and store-bought costumes are both accepted. Creativity is strongly
encouraged.
* Costumes must not include real weapons or dangerous props. All props must be
safe and non-functional.
* Culturally sensitive and respectful costumes are required. Avoid costumes that
could be considered inappropriate, offensive, or discriminatory.
Registration and Participation
* Contestants must register at the registration table between 4- 5pm on
10/31/2025.
* Each participant or group will be assigned a number for judging purposes.

Contest Categories
* Best Overall Costume
* Funniest Costume
* Favorite DYI Costume (must be 80% or more homemade)
* Best Group Costume (2 or more entered together)

Judging Criteria
* Creativity and Originality
* Quality and Effort

* Relevance to Category

Judges’ decisions are final and binding.

Prizes
* Winners will be announced at 6:30pm
* Prizes will be awarded for each category. Prizes are non-transferable and cannot
be exchanged for cash.

Prizes for Best Overall, Funniest, Favorite DYI:
1 st Place 1yr membership
2nd Place 6-month membership
3 rd Place 3-month membership

Prizes for Best Group Costume:
$20 Carousel Gift Cards (up to 5 participants, 1 each)

General Conduct
* Be respectful to all participants, judges, and event staff.
* No disruptive behavior or unsportsmanlike conduct will be tolerated.
* Failure to follow the rules may result in disqualification.

Safety
* All costumes and props must allow for safe movement and visibility.
* Please avoid costumes or props that could pose a tripping hazard or obstruct
emergency exits.

Photo and Video Release
By participating, contestants grant permission for photographs or video footage to be
taken and used for promotional or future contest purposes.

Holiday Give - Bottle Drop (Cans for the Carousel)
2025-11-15 - 2025-12-02
For cans donated between November 15th – December 2nd, Bottle Drop will match up to 20%
Come get a stickered Blue Bag, fill it up, and drop it directly to Bottle Drop OR the Carousel during the promotion!
Recycle for a reason, this holiday season!

Festival of Wreaths 2025!
2025-11-15 11:00 - 2025-11-22 19:00
We are so excited to host this years Festival of Wreaths!
🎄 Wreaths. 🎁 Baskets. ❤️ Giving Back.
Our Festival of Wreaths Auction goes live November 15 at 7:00am and closes November 22nd at 7:00pm
On site viewing is during our open hours November 15th – November 21st
Pick up will be November 23rd from 11am – 4pm, and 24th by appointment, just in time for holiday travels!
Don’t miss your chance to snag something special while supporting our Historic Carousel & Museum!
https://www.32auctions.com/CarouselFestivalOfWreaths

Black Friday Book Signing
2025-11-28 11:00 - 13:00
Our amazing Founder, Wendy Kirbey, will be doing two readings from Miracle on First Street, the true story of how our Historic Carousel & Museum came to be. She will also be available to sign books after purchase. All book purchases get a free bookmark!
Friday, November 28th
11:00am – 1:00pm
Readings will be held in the Our Story area next to our Gift Shop

Santa's Carousel Connection - Santa arrives by Train!
2025-11-29 10:45 - 16:00
🎅 Join Us for Santa’s Carousel Connection! 🎠
Kick off the holiday season with Santa’s grand arrival by train! 🚂Thanks to our wonderful friends at Portland & Western Railroad, Santa will be pulling into town to begin his visiting season!
✨ Event Highlights:
Free to Attend!
Welcome Santa as he arrives by train
Snap a photo with Santa to remember the magic!
Bring your family, your holiday cheer, and your camera. Enjoy a bite to eat in our cafe, and take a few spins! We can’t wait to celebrate the season with you! 🎄

Santa Visits
2025-11-29 11:00 - 2025-12-21 16:00
✨ Visit with Santa on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM – 4 PM, beginning November 29 through December 21.📸 Take free photos with Santa using your own device!
After your visit, enjoy a bite to eat, take a few spins on the carousel, and soak in the holiday cheer.
🎄 It’s free to visit Santa — come make merry memories with us!

Breakfast With Santa - One Stop Shop
2025-12-06 08:00 - 2025-12-14 10:00
Santa’s making a special stop just for us, and you’re invited to join the fun! Gather the family for a magical morning filled with giggles, goodies, and holiday cheer.
Enjoy a whimsical finger food breakfast, create a festive holiday craft, and share a laugh (and a photo!) with Santa himself. Bring your phone, snap as many free pictures as you like, and take home memories that will sparkle all season long.
🎅✨ Come hungry, come festive, and don’t forget your holiday spirit!
Due to popular demand of this event we have two breakfasts this year! Please select your tickets accordingly. Each event is limited so don’t wait!
RESERVE NOW – SPOTS ARE LIMITED!
LINK for Saturday December 6th (8AM-10AM): https://square.link/u/oDVdJocV
LINK for Sunday December 14th (8AM-10AM): https://square.link/u/elKsI058

Lady Sophia's Maiden Voyage
2026-01-17 11:00
Join us for Lady Sophia’s Maiden Voyage! Its always a wonderful time when a new animal joins the Carousel! Come be a part of our history and get a slice of cake while supplies last.

Stuffie Sleeopver at the Carousel!
2026-01-24 15:00 - 2026-01-25 11:00
Amount $20.00

📅 Drop-off: Saturday, January 24, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 PM 📅
Pick-up: Sunday, January 25, 2026 | 11:00 AM

Your Ticket Includes:
🧸 Stuffie Stays Over and Has a Blast!
🥪 Sack Lunch at Pickup
🎠 Two Carousel Rides
📸 Framed Photo of Your Stuffie’s Adventures
💛 Memories to Last a Lifetime
🌟 A Chance to Support the Carousel While Having Fun!

TICKETS HERE

This special event is a FUNdraiser for our nonprofit carousel, and every dollar raised helps keep the magic alive inside these doors. It’s a perfect chance for kiddos to have fun while also learning about the joy of giving back and building a strong community together. Thank you for your support! We can’t wait to see all the smiling faces!

Winter Wonderland - Carousel Cares Fundraiser Dinner
2026-01-25 17:30 - 20:00
Join us for our annual Carousel Cares Fundraising Dinner!
Proceeds go directly back into our community programs. Carousel Cares started its beautiful journey as a project aimed to lift up children that face various hardships. We provide ‘packs’ that include lunch vouchers, free ride cards, a little stuffed animal friend and other assorted goodies. We partner with local agencies like CASA, hospitals, foster programs and many more, to make sure these packs go the the kiddos that really need that little bit of extra love.

Buy Tickets HERE

Buy Tickets HERE

LEARN MORE

As time has gone on and our supporters have gotten deeper into the mission with us, our community offerings have grown. We host a number of community programs:
Carving the Future
Six week carving course for high school students ages 14+ provided for free with our Master Carvers. Graduates get to keep their tools!
Sensory Friendly Mornings
Wednesday each week we turn down the music and slow the carousel to support our community members with sensory sensitivities. The carousel is for everyone.
Field Trip Program
We partner with local schools to provide field trips for students, free of charge. We had over 400+ visitors through this program last year alone.
Emergent Community Needs
House fires, kids who need shoes, families that need coats…when we can, we address emergent needs on a case by case basis.
Summer Reading Program
We partner with local schools and libraries to offer free rides to kiddos that utilize the summer time for reading!
100 Holiday Meal Boxes
Because the the deep need, and the generosity of last years dinner attendees, we were able to provide holiday meals to 100 families that truly needed them.
And More!….
We seek to expand and maintain these programs where funding and vision permit. It is thanks to the generosity of people like yourself. We thank you for joining us!
The Albany Historic Carousel & Museum is a qualified 501(c)3 non-profit.
TAX ID: 93-1102746
Buy Tickets HERE

Once Upon a Thursday: Oregon Bee Atlas
2026-02-19 11:30 - 12:30
The buzz around the Carousel is that for this week’s Once Upon A Thursday… we will be visited by awesome folks from Oregon Bee Atlas, teaching us all about our wonderful pollinators!

Don’t miss out on this fun, family-friendly educational opportunity. It is sure to bee a good one!

Free to attend!

Once Upon a Thursday: Story Time with Miss Robin!
2026-02-26 11:30 - 12:30
Join us this week on February 26 at 11:30 a.m. in Party Room #1 for Storytime with Miss Robin

Once Upon a Thursday
2026-03-19 11:30 - 12:30
Get ready for this week’s “Once Upon A Thursday” at the Historic Carousel & Museum!
Every Thursday afternoon, we will provide fun, free, family-friendly activities for young children and homeschooled children of all ages!
Join us this week on March 19 at 11:30 a.m. in Party Room #1 for an afternoon of crafting at the Carousel!

Spring Break SPIRIT WEEK
2026-03-22 - 2026-03-29
Not only is the Carousel OPEN for all seven days of Spring Break but we also have special dress up days and daily cafe specials! Come on out and have some fun with us!
A reminder, Wednesday the 25th is our Founder Wendy Kirbey’s birthday and to celebrate there will be FREE RIDES ALL DAY!
Sunday – Thursday 11am – 4pm
Friday and Saturday 11am – 7pm

Founder's Birthday - Free rides all day!
2026-03-25 10:30 - 16:00
Come celebrate our founder Wendy Kirbey’s birthday with us!

Once Upon a Thursday
2026-03-26 11:30 - 12:30, 2026-04-23 11:30 - 12:30, 2026-05-14 11:30 - 12:30
This week we have Story Time with Miss Robin!
Free to attend. It will be held in our Rental Room 1, just off the main Carousel room. It is quickly becoming a family favorite! Come on down and enjoy a tale with us.

Kitty's Maiden Voyage!
2026-03-28 11:00 - 19:00
Join us for Kitty’s debut on the Carousel! There will be cake while supplies last.

Once Upon a Thursday
2026-04-02 11:30 - 12:30
This week we have awesome Lego fun with the Connection Club!

The Connection Club aims to create an inclusive space where people of all abilities are empowered to learn, connect, and grow through meaningful experiences rooted in respect, dignity, and opportunity.

They will provide a tub of Legos and scratch art for your child to create with. Anything they build, they can take home with them!

Easter Candy Handout at the Carrot-sel!
2026-04-04 11:00 - 19:00
Easter Candy handout while supplies last! We are open until 7pm!
The Easter Bunny will join us for photos and fun from 11am – 1:30pm

Once Upon a Thursday
2026-04-09 11:30 - 12:30
This week we have Story Time with Miss Robin!
Free to attend. It will be held in our Rental Room 1, just off the main Carousel room. This has become a family favorite! Come on down and enjoy a tale with us.

Once Upon a Thursday
2026-04-16 11:30 - 12:30
This week, we bring the fun with playdough, games, and coloring. Perfect for little imaginations to run wild. Best of all, these events are completely free and open to everyone!
Please note that Caesar’s (the no drama llama) visit was rescheduled to May 21st.

Little RoyalTea Party
2026-04-18 11:00 - 13:00
Calling all princes, princesses, kings, and queens! ✨ You’re invited to a royal tea party filled with magic and fun! Sip on delicious tea or juice, enjoy tasty finger foods, and get creative with exciting crafts. Plus, the Party Perfection Princes and Princesses will be there to make this day extra enchanting! Dress in your royal best and get ready for a splendidly magical time! 👑☕🎉

April 18, 2026
11:00am -1:00pm
Tickets: HERE

Kentucky Derby: A Night at the Races
2026-05-02 18:30 - 21:00
Kentucky Derby: Benefitting the Historic Carousel & Museum
Don your derby best! This 21-and-up event offers an exciting evening of fanciful outfits, carousel racing, refreshing mint juleps, and decadent Southern-style cuisine. Show off your derby flair with our red carpet walk and photo booth. Enter your extravagant hats, stylish shoes, and eye-catching outfits into one of our many ensemble competitions for a chance to bring home a 1st place ribbon!
The Kentucky Derby is one of the carousel’s biggest fundraising events of the year! All proceeds will support the Historic Carousel & Museum 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, allowing us to continue giving back to our community and providing a fun, safe space for everyone to enjoy.
TICKETS WILL GO FAST SO GET YOURS TODAY! Click on the name of the ticket you want to purchase to proceed. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable night. We can’t wait to see you there!
Grand Stand General Admission – $70

General Admission for 6:30 p.m.
1 raffle ticket

Churchill Downs VIP – $100

Early admission at 6:00 p.m.
Unlimited carousel rides for the first half hour
Carousel swag bag
2 raffle tickets
1 drink ticket

Churchill Downs VIP Table – $800

All VIP perks for each guest
Reserve a table for up to 8 guests
Take home a bottle of wine (per table)

Carousel Races

Purchase betting tickets for $1 each
Wager your bets on our carousel horses
Win 20 extra raffle tickets

Derby Raffle

Purchase extra raffle tickets for $5 each
Enter for a chance to win one of our five incredible raffle prizes
5 winners will be chosen

Silent Auction

Browse unique items, baskets, and adventures up for bid
All proceeds support the Carousel’s operations.

Wine Pull

Feeling lucky? $20 per pull (while supplies last)
Visit the ticket table and pull a bottle of wine, perfect for a prize or a treat to enjoy at home!

No ticket refund after purchase. Must be present to win prizes. Email any additional questions to CarouselEvents4@gmail.com

A Big Thank You to our Sponsors:

Mother's Day Special
2026-05-10 11:00 - 16:00
Mom’s ride free! First 100 mothers to visit the carousel will also receive a free flower.

Summer Rides Program - A Carousel Quest
2026-05-30 11:00 - 2026-08-15 16:00
For only $30 you get access to $94 worth of rides. You also get a chance to win a year of unlimited rides. Stop by our gift shop and pick your pass(es) today!

This pass cannot be shared or transferred. It is for a single rider and must have their name on the front to be considered valid. It is only usable for rides through August 15, 2026

The carousel is not responsible for lost or stolen passes. We encourage parents/guardians to fill out their contact info on the back upon purchase.

At the entrance gate, have our operator stamp an animal and enjoy the ride!

Once your card has all its stamps, turn this pamphlet into gift shop with a name, phone number, and email address of an adult 18+ by August 15th, to be entered into a drawing for a 1 year Painted Pony Membership!

Friendly reminder that our 9th annual Carnival at the Carousel is also happening on August 15th so mark your calendars! Family fun packs are already available for purchase at: https://square.link/u/HUeaAOPc

Unlimited Fun for Everyone!
2026-06-01 11:00 - 16:00
Unlimited ride bracelets are just $10 per person on June 1st & 2nd, and again on June 8th & 9th!
Want to ride all day? Grab a bracelet or stick with standard tokens if you prefer. Either way, there’s fun for everyone!

Delicious café specials FREE tours A curated gift shop full of unique finds Rides, memories, and fun all day long

Bring your friends and family and come make some memories with us!

Unlimited Fun for Everyone
2026-06-02 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-08 11:00 - 16:00
