Carousel and Band Organ Rally

Several Rotary clubs of Broome County New York presented the first regional Carousel and Band Organ Rally in conjunction with the Carousel Organ Association of America in 2023. It was held agan in 2025  The Band Organ Rally will be back in 2027 at Spiedie Fest in Binghamton.

 

Broome County is known as the “Carousel Capital of the World” thanks to the generosity of industrialist George F. Johnson.   Mr. Johnson provided carousels and band organs to six sites from 1919 to 1934.  His goal was to provide free family entertainment and they remain free today.  All six sites were declared National Historic Sites. 

 

The region is also the home of Harvey Roehl, a pioneer in the collection of outdoor mechanical musical instruments.  Local inventor Edwin Link made organs and player pianos.  Link’s work with organs led to his development of simulators for the aviation industry.  Rod Serling, author of the Twilight Zone, lived a short distance from Rec park.  The Binghamton Philharmonic recently brought to life Serling’s episode, “Walking Distance”.  A Wurlitzer band organ was used in the performance.   This Rally honors the contributions of Johnson, Roehl, Link and Serling to our community.  

 

Endicott Rotary started searching for a band organ for their carousels in 2020.  Two years later Endwell Rotary embarked on a similar quest for Highland Park.  Endwell Rotary purchased a refurbished organ from Mikey Mills, a member of the Carousel Organ Association of America.  Mikey suggested the idea of a band organ rally.  We decided to develop an event that would honor all six Carousel sites.  

 

A broad-based community collaboration was formed to plan the event and to entertain our visitors.   Please explore the carousel circuit and our community at https://visitbinghamton.org/things-to-do/carousels/.  We welcome you to our community to share your love and appreciation of carousels and band organs.