DOWNTOWN PALM BEACH GARDENS’ BELOVED CAROUSEL REOPENS BY THE WATERFRONT
Community Celebration to kick-off Mia’s Mondays to Take Place January 20
(Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) – The waterfront at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens is set to bring lots of smiles to children and families when the beloved children’s carousel makes its return to Downtown on January 20. The children’s ride was disassembled in August 2020, refurbished with an updated look and reassembled at its new lakeside home on the east side of the plaza. A community-wide celebration, Mia’s Miracles at the Carousel, is set to take place on Thursday, January 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. and will focus on Downtown’s new partnership with local nonprofit, Mia’s Miracles Foundation, and will be the official re-opening of the carousel.
The fun-filled day will include carousel rides, cotton candy, balloon artists, face painters and more. The day will also spotlight “Mia’s Mondays,” which will take place at the carousel every Monday starting on Monday, January 24 with a portion of the carousel proceeds benefitting local nonprofit, Mia’s Miracles.
“The Carousel was our special place where we created so many happy memories with Mia every Monday after grocery shopping,” said President and Founder of Mia’s Miracles Foundation, Maria Ochoa. “We’re extremely grateful for the partnership with Downtown Palm Beach Gardens and ShopCore Properties so that more families can create moments of joy, while at the same time helping us bring smiles to children and families in need through our Foundation programs.”
PGA Professional Golfer Camilo Villegas and wife Maria Ochoa founded Mia’s Miracles Foundation after losing their daughter Mia to brain and spinal cancer when she was 22 months old. Mia’s Miracles Foundation provides small blessings with large impacts, bringing smiles and positivity to children and families facing challenging circumstances. The vision of Mia’s Miracles Foundation is that all children and families receive access to reliable resources and a supportive network that leads to a hopeful future.
“In memory of Mia Villegas, ‘Mia’s Mondays’ at the carousel will be a day dedicated to Mia’s Miracles Foundation,” said Alexis Brock, Regional Marketing Manager for ShopCore Properties, owners and managing entity for Downtown Palm Beach Gardens. “The carousel has been a main attraction in Palm Beach Gardens for more than 10 years and is loved by so many in the community. Our hope for ‘Mia’s Mondays’ is for families to take time to find the miracles of life, hope and love in each day while enjoying time together and making memories at the carousel. As we continue to re-envision Downtown Palm Beach Gardens, we are so excited to bring the carousel back – better than ever, and now with a special purpose of celebrating the life of Mia.”
The carousel, which was originally installed in November 2010, is a one-of-a-kind design that was custom created for Downtown to reflect the tropical atmosphere of South Florida. The menagerie of animals contains 27 unique pieces that include Florida wildlife such as alligators, manatees, pelicans and dolphins as well as the typical carousel horses.
The renovation of the carousel is part of Downtown’s transformation of its common areas including new art panels featuring local artist Emmanuel Gonzales to be unveiled in February, tropical landscaping, six large-scale stainless-steel dandelion bloom sculptures, and fun new furnishings.
Entry into Mia’s Miracles at the Carousel on January 20 will be a $10 cash donation to benefit the Mia’s Miracles Foundation. For more information on Downtown Palm Beach Gardens or the special event, please visit downtownpbg.com.
Downtown Palm Beach Gardens is a premier retail destination located in the heart of a Floridian lifestyle haven. In addition to an exclusive collection of unique, local retailers, Downtown is home to over 50 shops and restaurants and is accented by an abundance of signature events, family-centric experiences, a pet-friendly atmosphere, and infinite opportunities for connection and inspiration. Downtown offers something for everyone. The merchant mix is enhanced by lush landscaping, waterfront views and expansive outdoor space for entertainment and events. Downtown Palm Beach Gardens is owned and managed by ShopCore Properties.
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About ShopCore Properties
ShopCore is a vertically integrated real estate company with internalized leasing, development, property management, legal, accounting and asset management functions. Currently ShopCore leases and manages 50+ shopping centers covering approximately 20mm+ square-feet across 19 states.