Celebrate your special moments at the Carousel!

A party in the Carousel Pavilion is a great way to celebrate a birthday, shower, company celebration, or other social event. Rent a Birthday Station next to the Carousel, the whole Carousel Pavilion, the Dollard Pavilion, or the whole building! Download our brochure.

Rent a Birthday Party Station

Available only from 12:00 to 4:30 pm on days the Carousel is open.

Celebrate right next to the Carousel! Each of our two birthday stations includes two 8’ tables with bench seating.

  • Cost:
    • $160 for a 2‑hour rental between 12:00 to 4:30 pm (public hours) for up to 10 children + 2 adults
    • Additional guests: $7/person adults and children up to 30 total guests (charged whether they ride or not)
    • $80 for each additional hour, pending availability. Must be scheduled at time of booking
  • Small bag of popcorn per guest
  • Rides included
  • Two 8-foot rectangular tables with bench seating
  • Two, red plastic tablecloths
  • Maximum capacity: 30 people (adults + children)
  • NOTE: A 2-hour rental during public hours includes rental space at the Birthday Party Station ONLY. The Carousel Pavilion is open to the public. Carousel rides and restrooms will be shared with public guests and possibly other parties in the Carousel building.
  • Rules & Policies:
    • Full payment of $160 is required to reserve your date; Additional guest fees ($7/person) will be charged the day of your event.
    • If a party must be postponed, we will work with you to reschedule, however cancellations within 14 days will forfeit the deposit if a reschedule date cannot be found.
    • During winter parking bans in Hartford, the Carousel will close. A full refund will be given if a reschedule date cannot be found.
    • You may arrive 30 minutes early for setup at no additional cost and have 30 minutes for cleanup at the end of your scheduled event.
    • All trash must be placed in provided bins or taken home.
    • No food or beverages are allowed on the Carousel.
    • Alcohol is not permitted during open public hours.  
    • No helium balloons are allowed in the building. Face Painters or balloons of any kind are not permitted at Birthday Party Stations
    • Glitter and confetti are prohibited.
    • We do not close for private events during posted public hours.

Rent the Dollard Pavilion

Available for birthday parties and special events During or After Public Hours.

Built in 2015 and named after Hartford architect Jack Dollard, this private room accommodates 40 seated or up to 60 for a standing reception.

  • Cost
    • $500 for a 2‑hour rental between 12:00 to 4:30 pm (public hours) 
    • $250 for each additional hour during public rentals –  must be scheduled at time of booking
    • $800 for a 2‑hour rental during non‑public hours
    • $400 for each additional hour for private after hours events – must be scheduled at time of booking
    • 10% discount for nonprofits or City of Hartford residents
  • Rides for your guests included
  • Four 8-foot rectangular tables
  • One 6-foot rectangular table
  • 60 Padded grey folding chairs
  • Staff provided to run the Carousel and facility
  • Maximum capacity: 60 people
  • NOTE: A 2-hour rental during public hours includes rental space of the Dollard Pavilion ONLY. The Carousel Pavilion is open to the public. While no one other than your party guests will be allowed in the Dollard Pavilion, carousel rides and restrooms will be shared with public guests and possibly other parties in the Carousel building.
  • Rules & Policies
    • A 50% deposit is required to reserve your date; the balance is due the week of your event.
    • If a party must be postponed, we will work with you to reschedule, however cancellations within 14 days will forfeit the deposit if a reschedule date cannot be found.
    • During winter parking bans in Hartford, the Carousel will close. A full refund will be given if a reschedule date cannot be found.
    • Hartford residents receive a 10% discount (excluding the $160 Birthday Station package).
    • You may arrive 30 minutes early for setup at no additional cost.
    • All trash must be placed in provided bins or taken home.
    • No food or beverages are allowed on the Carousel.
    • Alcohol is not permitted during open public hours.  
    • No helium balloons are allowed in the building. Face painters and balloon artists are permitted only in the Dollard Pavilion. Balloon arches or air-filled table centerpieces are allowed in Dollard Pavilion only.
    • Glitter and confetti are prohibited 
    • We do not close for private events during posted public hours.

Rent the Carousel Pavilion

The entire Carousel Pavilion can also be rented for larger parties during non-public hours and makes for a unique backdrop for weddings, reunions, and corporate events.

Cost: $800 for 2-hour rental during non-public hours with unlimited rides on the carousel. Max capacity is 180.


Rules/Policies

Full payment is required upon booking your event to confirm the date. If a party must be postponed, there are no refunds or financial penalties. We will work with you to reschedule. During the winter months, when there is a parking ban in the city of Hartford, the carousel will close.

Hartford residents get a 10% discount on rentals, excluding the Children’s Birthday Party ($160).

You can come in 30 minutes before your party to set up (no additional fee).

All trash, including unwanted food and beverages, must be placed in the provided garbage cans or taken home.

No food or beverages allowed on the Carousel.

Alcohol is permitted only within the Dollard Pavilion or as part of a private party rental of the Carousel Pavilion. Renters serving alcohol must provide a certificate of insurance naming the Bushnell Park Conservancy and the City of Hartford as additional insureds.

No balloons allowed in the Carousel Pavilion. Face painters/balloon makers allowed in Dollard Pavilion only.

Please note:

  • We never close for private events during our posted public hours.
  • The building is not available for rent during our annual winter cleaning and maintenance period, typically between January and March. Visit our Carousel Hours page for more specific dates.

Have additional questions not covered here? Want to rent the entire Carousel Building? Email manager@bushnellpark.org.

To inquire about rentals, please click the button below to send a detailed email about your event.

Carousel Event Booking