A nonprofit arts & culture organization  •  Nederland, CO  •  303.258.3457

Animals After Dark

*** This year’s event is tentatively scheduled for November 2026 ***

2025 Annual Fundraising Gala

Join us for a night out with all the animals!

This year, we are celebrating 15 Years of Smiles here at the Carousel.  In honor of our 15th anniversary, we ask you to join in our theme by dressing up as you did at age 15!  If you were born in the late 60s, that means come in your best 80s garb!  If you were born in the late 50s, show us your grooviest 70s attire.  If you were born in the 80s, show us your best 90s grunge or early 2000s Uggz!

Join in the fun and potentially win a prize by completing the scavenger hunt!  The evening starts with drinks and appetizers.  We also want to honor and acknowledge the tens of thousands of hours that volunteers have put in to keep this place spinning until now. 

We especially want to honor and acknowledge Doug Cosper for the time and love he gave to the organization.  Then we will all hop on the Carousel for a ride. Don’t Delay Joy!

Browse through the silent auction full of carousel memorabilia, gift baskets, art, and even a one-week trip to Mexico starting at $1,200!  The Auction will be open until 8:30pm.  Enjoy a scrumptious meal (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available) and mingle with other carousel donors, board, and staff. 

We hope you’ll join us for a night of celebrating 15 Years of Smiles!

Date, Time, Location

  • Theme: We turned 15 this year, so come dressed in something you did when you were 15 years old, and have some silly fun!
  • Tuesday, November 11 ~ Veteran’s Day
  • 5:30PM ~ Doors open with Appetizers, Drinks and Scavenger Hunt
  • 6:00PM ~ Honor Doug Cosper
  • 6:30PM ~ Dinner Served
  • 7:00PM ~ Message from the COH Board of Directors
  • 8:00PM ~ Dessert Served
  • 8:30PM ~ Silent Auction Closes
  • Located at the Carousel of Happiness, 20 Lakeview Drive, Nederland, CO

Ticket Price

$85 per person ~ Register by Oct 11 and get $10 off each ticket!

Includes appetizers, entree, drinks, and dessert. 

If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation!

Donate $750

Supports the painting of one smaller animal by Rebecca Linn, who carefully restores our animals in the off-season.

Donate $500

Supports the painting of one smaller animal.  Approximately 10 animals are restored by Rebecca each year.

Donate $250

Supports 6 months of supplies for the Wonder Box.

Donate $100

Supports a free ride for a local school group.

All proceeds from the event (including ticket sales, auction sales, and donations) support the maintenance of our 1910 Looff carousel mechanism, our menagerie of contemporary animals, our 1913 Wurlitzer band organ, and our mission to promote happiness, well-being, and service to others through stories and experiences.

Photos of our Veteran’s Appreciation themed gala in November 2023!

Photos of our 1920s themed gala in June 2022!

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CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

There was an unfortunate fire in the shopping center. The carousel and building are okay, but the two-story building next to us has been completely lost. Please send our local business owners that lost everything your love, and we'll be back open for rides once all is cleaned up.

HOURS

Monday:

11am to 5pm

Closed Tuesday 

& Wednesday

Tuesday:

11am to 5pm

Wednesday:

11am to 5pm

Thursday:

11am to 5pm

Friday:

10am to 5pm *

Saturday:

10am to 5pm

Sunday:

10am to 5pm

Last ride of the day at 4:45pm

Call (303) 258-3457 for more information

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We are a 501c3 Arts and Culture organization on a mission to promote happiness, well-being, and service to others through stories and experiences.  Your donation today will keep us spinning for another year!