Don Sausser snapped a few photos of the trial run of the back-to-the-future Coeur d'Alene Carousel this week. The Carousel will open Friday, just east of Memorial Field, as part of a day-long Fun Day in the area around City Park.

Kerri Thoreson/Main Street welcomes back Coeur d'Alene Carousel:

On Friday at 11 a.m., when the ribbon is cut for the return of the carousel to Coeur d’Alene, it will be an incredible gift with credit due to those who persevered and believed it could happen. The Coeur d’Alene Carousel Foundation and the generosity of John and Pat Foote have done something wonderful with this project.

As someone who spent time at Playland Pier in my 1960s-era youth, the carousel is a bit of nostalgia of years gone by. For those who are now raising young families here, the carousel will become a part of their youthful memories in the years to come.

My now-grown daughters all enjoyed Playland Pier when they were little; it was the pot of gold at the end of the Fourth of July kiddie parade where they could ride the rides and enjoy an ice cream cone. I love that another generation of children, and adults, will begin making new memories of the beautiful Coeur d’Alene waterfront and park. www.cdacarousel.com. Full column here.