The Greenway Carousel
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Greenway Carousel offers a highly affordable ($4.00, EBT accepted) and delightful experience featuring well-maintained, whimsical animal carvings (including birds, fish, and a boat), comfortable seating, and charming themed music. It's perfectly located near the aquarium and wharf, making it an excellent addition to a day trip for all ages, from children to adults seeking a moment of fun or nostalgia. It's often not too busy and even provides free rides on special occasions.
Key Highlights
- ✓Cool characters/figurines of excellent quality and maintenance, including whimsical carvings of birds, fish, and a boat.
- ✓Offers a variety of choices for riders.
- ✓Comfortable seats.
- ✓Charming and surprisingly good, themed music that stays on topic with the spinning.
- ✓Wasn't too busy during one reviewer's visit, suggesting a generally relaxing experience.
- ✓Very pretty, well-kept figurines and mirrors, machine wasn't old.
- ✓Open and offered free rides on New Year's Eve, suggesting potential for occasional free access.
Standout Features
- ⭐Excellent quality and maintenance of the carousel's design and characters.
- ⭐Super affordable at only $4.00 per ride.
- ⭐Conveniently located near the aquarium and wharf, making it an easy add-on to other activities.
- ⭐Accepts EBT for payment, enhancing accessibility.
- ⭐Visually appealing; worth walking around and appreciating the cool features and design even if not riding.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Consider it a 'must do' if you are in the area of the aquarium and wharf.
- →Take a ride regardless of age for the sake of nostalgia and pure enjoyment.
- →Be aware that free rides might be offered on special occasions (e.g., New Year's Eve).
- →Allocate time to simply walk around and appreciate the beautiful designs even if you don't plan to ride.
Price & Value
Super affordable at only $4.00 per ride. Accepts EBT. Occasionally offers free rides on special occasions (e.g., New Year's Eve). Provides high value for the low cost, offering a quality experience for a 'short ride'.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Accepts EBT, providing financial accessibility for families.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific parking details mentioned, but its location near the aquarium and wharf implies it's part of a larger, well-serviced area where parking would be available (though not specified if free or paid).
👥Crowd Levels
- •One reviewer noted it 'wasn't too busy', suggesting it can be a relatively uncrowded and relaxing experience.
🛡️Safety Features
- •The carousel is described as being of 'excellent quality and maintenance' and the 'machine wasn't old or anything', implying good operational safety.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Greenway Carousel Birthday Party Package
$350Duration: 1.5 hours
An exciting, fun-filled birthday party. Takes place in a private, roped-off area. Guests with wristbands have unlimited access to the Carousel for the duration of the party.
Includes:
- •1.5 Hours in a reserved party area
- •12 Unlimited Ride Wristbands (non-transferable, for up to 12 kids or adults)
- •Exclusive tables with chairs and umbrellas for shade (4 round tables with 4 chairs each, seats 16)
- •Designated Carousel Host to help with set up, decorating, and clean up
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Greenway Carousel Birthday Parties
Scheduled during Carousel operating hours, 1.5-hour slots with option for extended time
$350 for base package, plus add-ons (Extended Time: $50/extra half hour, Extra Wristbands: $15/participant, Extra Table with Chairs & Umbrellas: $25/table, Carousel Coloring Book: $15/each, Table Top Coloring Page: $5/each)
Book a private birthday party in a roped-off area with unlimited carousel rides for guests with wristbands.
Fall Festival 2025
October 3, 2025, 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Not specified (likely free for entry, events may vary)
Family-friendly event on The Greenway.
Fall Movie Nights
October 3, 2025, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Not specified (likely free)
The Greenway's Fall Movie Nights series.
Greenway Artisan Market
October 4, 2025, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Not specified (entry likely free)
Vibrant open-air market featuring talented area artists, crafters, and independent designers.
Pints & Purls (Knitting Class)
October 2, 2025, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Not specified (materials and instruction free)
Beginner-friendly knitting class at Night Shift on The Greenway. Free materials and instruction provided by Boston Fiber Collective.
Conservation and Cuisine
October 2, 2025, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Not specified
An evening dedicated to ocean conservation and sustainable food practices, held on The Greenway adjacent to Night Shift.
🍎Food Policy
- • Guests may bring food and cake for parties.
- • Food that needs to be prepared or warmed onsite is not allowed.
- • Alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
- • Food trucks are present on The Greenway (check schedule).
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Children must meet the 42″ height restriction.
- • Children who do not meet the 42″ height restriction must be accompanied by an adult.
- • Accompanying adults ride for free, but the child must have a ride ticket.
📅Booking Policy
- • Tickets are available for purchase onsite and online.
- • For birthday parties: Email carousel@rosekennedygreenway.org with preferred date, time, and add-ons.
- • Birthday party booking process: email, phone call, $100 non-refundable deposit to reserve date/time, sign agreement, pay remainder on party day.
- • Birthday party setup time: 30 minutes prior to scheduled party time.
🚗Parking Information
- • Not explicitly mentioned, but location in downtown Boston suggests nearby paid parking garages or street parking.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Julie Rooney
a month agoCool characters of excellent quality and maintenance. A choice for everyone, adults feel like a big kid, all smiling. Super affordable, only $4.00. Great location near aquarium and wharf, everything. Must do.
Bhaumik Mistry
11 months agoThis carousel was a delightful surprise! The whimsical carvings of birds, fish, and even a boat offered a variety of choices for riders. Plus, the comfortable seats and charming music made it a relaxing and enjoyable experience for all ages. Definitely a must-ride!
brian tenney
4 months agoWe visited here on New Years Eve. They were open and letting people on for free. The children really loved this little treat in the middle of nowhere.
Matt H
11 months agoA really cool attraction with some fun and beautiful animal designs. Even if you do not go on the ride it is well worth walking around and appreciating the cool features and design of this carousel.
Mira Crudel
a year agoI didn't know there was a carousel next to the aquarium, but it really made the day trip. It wasn't too busy and the machine wasn't old or anything. Very pretty, well-kept figurines and mirrors. A little fun fact: they accept EBT, and that being said, the ticket is only $4 for a short ride. It might sound silly, but I definitely recommend you take a ride regardless of age just for the sake of nostalgia. The music they played was surprisingly pretty good. They tried to stay on theme with the spinning theme, so all the songs are kinda funny.