Starting today, and every Thursday in August, kids under the age of 12 can ride the cool Prospect Park Carousel for free. The Carousel dates to 1912 and was restored in 1990 by the Prospect Park Alliance. It has 51 hand carved horses, as well as a giraffe, lion, deer and two dragon-pulled chariots; the Wurlitzer organ has 141 pipes and 16 bells. If you want to swing by, the carousel is open Thursdays through Sundays, from 12-6PM (5PM after Labor Day). If you go on a day other than Thursday or if you are older than 12, the rides are $1.50 and a book of 6 tickets is $8. Children under three must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, giving adults a perfect excuse to ride, while pretending they are only doing their duty.

The Carousel is located in the Park’s Children’s Corner, just inside the Willink entrance to the Park, at Ocean and Flatbush Avenues and Empire Boulevard. The nearest subways are the Q, S, or B Train to Prospect Park station. The free rides are sponsored by Astoria Federal Savings. For more information about goings-on in Prospect Park in general, click here.