Carrousel Rides More Than Myth

The doors weren’t open yet.

But three preschoolers who had bolted from the adults slowing them down pressed their faces against the glass. They stared in at the painted wooden horses on the motionless Riverfront Park Carrousel. And one of them yelled something in toddlerese.

Translation: “This is going to be great.”

Others had the same idea Sunday morning. By the time the ride opened at 11 a.m., about 10 family clusters loosely circled its copper-colored exterior as gulls turned and shrieked overhead.

Inside, an efficient cadre of teenage girls in tan shorts got things going in short order.

Organ music and the smell of popcorn filled the place.

Signs spelled out the rules. “Remove sharp objects from pockets.”

“Throw rings at clown only.”

Tickets cost $1.

Riders chose their mounts, climbed on, strapped in and waited.

Then, as one of the girls in tan shorts loudly rang a bell a couple of times, the carrousel smoothly began its counterclockwise whirling.

When the ride had built up a little speed, the girl rang the bell rapid-fire several more times and extended a mechanical arm from which riders could attempt to grab plastic rings.

And as their children gently bobbed along, several men and women armed with flash cameras and video units recorded the moment. The carrousel is, after all, one of the classic photo opportunities in Spokane parenthood.

But do kids really enjoy it or is it just one of those things moms and dads think children ought to like?

If an hour spent hanging out at the ride on a sunny spring day is any indication, the answer is clear. Kids love it.

You see wide eyes, delighted laughter. The whole package.

Well, most kids love it.

One toddler who was all set to ride on one of the horses with his mom took a second look around and made a judgment call. He freaked.

He squirmed. He squealed.

“Sit in the swan, sit in the swan,” implored the child’s father, standing nearby and gesturing to a decorated bench on the carrousel that, truth be told, looked a lot more like a dragon than a swan.

But the move did the trick.

The first ride of the day had about a dozen people on board. By the fourth, the count was up to about 40.

“Yeee-hah,” shouted one little boy as the gorgeous contraption started up again.

, DataTimes MEMO: Being There is a weekly feature that looks at gatherings in the Inland Northwest.