With $2 Hot Dogs and Lemonade, Tilden Park’s Historic Carousel Rolls Out “Family Fun Days”
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA — Tucked beneath Tilden Regional Park’s redwood canopy, the 113-year-old Herschell-Spillman menagerie carousel is getting a very kid- (and wallet-) friendly glow-up.
Beginning this season, the carousel’s operators are hosting Family Fun Days every Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., turning the meadow beside the ride into an old-fashioned mini-fairground.
Highlights include:
| Perk | What’s in it for families |
|---|---|
| Parents/Chaperones ride FREE | Show any paid child ticket and hop aboard one of the hand-carved zebras, lions, sea monsters—or the chariot—for no charge. |
| $2 Hot Dogs & $2 Lemonade | Simple, budget-friendly lunch without leaving the park. |
| Classic lawn games | Corn-hole, ring-toss, water tables and a plastic ninja star throwing board |
| Creative art booths & photo cut-outs | Kids can craft carousel-themed art, then mug for the camera inside a “Mystery Machine” beside Scooby-Doo-era stand-ins. |
A century-old carousel with fresh energy
Built in 1911 and moved to Tilden in the late 1940s, the four-row carousel is one of the Bay Area’s few surviving antique rides. Each animal— from giraffes to dragons—was hand-carved in New York and restored by East Bay Regional Park District artisans. The calliope still pipes out rag-time classics that carry across the canyon (albeit via a speaker instead of the original mechanism).
Make a full day of it
Family Fun Day wristbands aren’t required; you can drop in for a single spin or linger:
- Little Farm (8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. daily): A five-minute stroll away, kids can meet cows, goats, pigs, and chickens in the newly refreshed Cow Barn.
- Picnic & trails: Shaded tables ring the carousel, and there are tons of trails nearby.
- Practicalities: Parking is free
If You Go
- When: Every Thursday & Friday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., through at least August (weather permitting).
- Where: Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round, 500 Central Park Dr., Berkeley.
- Cost: Carousel tickets $4 single ride, $10 three-ride booklets; parents/chaperones ride free with a child ticket on Family Fun Days. Hot dogs & lemonade $2 each; lawn games and art stations included with admission.
- More info: TildenMerryGoRound.org for exact dates and any weather updates.
Why it matters: With summer camps booking up and amusement-park prices soaring, Tilden’s “Family Fun Days” offer a rare combo of vintage charm and East Bay affordability—proof that a memorable outing doesn’t need a major road trip (or a triple-digit price tag). Grab the kids, pack a picnic blanket, and let the carousel music carry you into a slower rhythm of summer.
