It doesn’t matter when you were born—carousels are sure to be a treasured part of your childhood, especially if you were circus folk. You can help the Olcott Beach Carousel Park preserve local amusement park memories at their upcoming seaside fundraiser.

Swing on out to Jazz Sea Sunset from 7 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the Olcott Yacht Club. If you really want to keep it old-school, take the trolley from the Harbor Inn on Route 18. For $20, you get hors d’oeuvres, your choice of one sandwich, access to the cash bar and a beautiful view of the Lake Ontario sunset.

Chaired by Dolores Stinson and sponsored by the Olcott Yacht Club, the event will be open to the public. Pretend you’re the Great Gatsby as you sit out on the patio to enjoy music with Sophisticated Swing, perhaps performing the delicate art of seduction on the beautiful Daisy Buchanan as you dance under the stars. Or maybe you’d rather head into the dining room, where you can lend your brassy baritone to the piano favorites sing-a-long with Kevin Clark.

Olcott Beach Carousel Park is a not-for-profit organization run completely by volunteers. The historic amusement was established seven years ago to preserve the remaining carnival pieces of the 1940’s and 1950’s. The Olcott Beach Carousel Park features a 1928 Allan Herschell carousel and five other vintage kiddy rides:

- 1946 Allan Herschell Kiddy Auto/Fire Truck Ride originally from Olcott
- 1940’s Allan Herschell Sky Fighter
- 1940’s Boat Ride
- 1950’s Rocket Swing Ride
- Ferris Wheel from Page’s Whistle Pig in Niagara Falls.

It also has a great deal of whimsy, which is timeless.

More information on the park or volunteering is available online.

Last year’s event sold out, so you’d better shake your garishly painted ceramic tail if you want to make the cut this summer. Tickets and information are available at 778-7066, Olcott Beach Carousel Park ticket booth (5979 Main St. in Olcott) and Images of the Past (5976 Ontario St. in Olcott).