Come for the fun, come for the food, come to support Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.
The school’s annual carnival will take place Saturday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school, located at 1111 S. Grove Ave. in Oak Park. It is the 75th such carnival in 84 years. (There was a nine-year gap.)
Money raised goes to support student resources and educational services. While entry is free, game tickets, popcorn, cotton candy, pizza and chips will be available for purchase. There will also be a silent auction.
Deborah “Debbie” Tomalis is a first grade teacher at Lincoln, her alma mater. She graduated in 1985, when she was known as Debbie Cooper. At 50 years old, she still has memories of attending the carnival as a Lincoln student; among her favorites was seeing her teachers on the weekends.
“I remember just being so excited to see [my] teachers at the carnival,” said Tomalis. “You don’t think that they live outside of school.”
Now, Tomalis co-chairs the carnival along with Kerri Joy. Finding time to do so was a priority, she said.
“I have so much on my plate but I was like, nope, this is what I really want to do,” said Tomalis. She noted that the event is “one of the biggest money makers for the [DG1] school.”
The first hour of the carnival (10 a.m.) is known as “sensory hour.” During this time, students with sensory-related disabilities, such as autism and ADHD, will be provided with noise cancelling headphones to experience the carnival’s offerings. For those who wish to take a break at any point, there will be a set quiet area. These accommodations will allow for a chance to avoid overstimulation.
While this year’s carnival marks its 75th occurrence, the carnival premiered in 1941, making room for nine years in an 84-year period during which the carnival was not held.
According to Benjamin Melickian, a Lincoln teacher assistant who compiled the carnival’s history, there was a break in carnivals between 1941 and 1949 due to World War II. Another cancellation occurred in 2021 due to COVID.
Still, these gaps only account for 8 years in the 84- year period during which the carnival was not held. For this year’s event to be number 75, there occurred one other year in which the carnival was cancelled. To Melickian, this ninth lack-of-occurrence remains a mystery.
But that is all history. For Lincoln students, families, and faculty, such as Tomalis, all eyes are on Feb. 1.
This year’s sponsors include Bulley and Andrews –its top sponsor –
Battistoni, Beam and Polivka Orthodontics, Petite Smiles and Tooth Buds..
The carnival has always found innovative ways of fundraising. Dating back to the first carnival in 1941, which was held to fundraise for a movie and sound equipment system, the event sold baked beans for 20 cents and displayed a “dancing fishpond,” according to Melickian’s findings.
At its next occurrence in 1949, the event included a magician, clowns, skeet-ball, and a weight guessing game, costing 25 cents for adults with free entry for children. It also included a bake sale.
The carnival’s baked-good legacy will continue into 2025. There will be a cakewalk for kids to participate in, where participants walk in a circle and whoever lands on the spot with the selected number gets to choose a baked-good, which will be donated by attendees.
Another event highlight is the silent auction. This year, prizes include but are not limited to four show tickets and a $50 gift card to Robert’s Westside, a $1,000 Spavia spa package, and a $250 birthday at Frick Kids Art.
More notably, Lincoln students are preparing for some healthy competition. Each classroom will create a poster to decorate the school’s hallways. Then, staff will vote on their favorite creation, and the winning class will be allocated extra game tickets.
Most of all, Tomalis wants current Lincoln students to experience the feelings that she felt over 40 years ago.
“[The students] are there to have fun,” she said.
“It’s really hard because, again, we’re so busy. But, you know, the kids being able to see the teachers there on a Saturday, working the carnival, is kind of fun.”
For more information, visit https://www.ptolincoln.org/lincoln75carnival
