Celebrating 75 Years of Joy, Flavor, and Philanthropy at OP Elementary School!

Join us for the enjoyment, join us for the meals, join us to support Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.

The school’s yearly carnival will occur on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the institution, situated at 1111 S. Grove Ave. in Oak Park. This marks the 75th such carnival held over 84 years. (There was a nine-year interval.)

Funds generated will aid student supplies and educational programs. Although entry is complimentary, tickets for games, popcorn, cotton candy, pizza, and chips will be sold. A silent auction will also be featured.

Deborah “Debbie” Tomalis, a first-grade educator at Lincoln and a graduate of the school, reflects back to when she attended in 1985, then known as Debbie Cooper. Even at 50 years old, she holds fond memories of participating in the carnival as a student; one of her cherished moments was spotting her teachers during weekends.

“I recall being so thrilled to see [my] teachers at the carnival,” Tomalis shared. “You don’t really think of them existing outside of school.”

Currently, Tomalis serves as co-chair of the carnival with Kerri Joy. She expressed that making time for this responsibility was essential.

“I have so much to manage but I decided, no, this is something I truly want to pursue,” Tomalis stated. She emphasized that the event serves as “one of the greatest fundraising opportunities for the [DG1] school.”

The initial hour of the carnival (10 a.m.) is designated as “sensory hour.” During this period, students experiencing sensory-related challenges, including autism and ADHD, will be equipped with noise-canceling headphones to enjoy the carnival’s activities. For anyone wanting to relax at any time, a designated quiet zone will be available. These adaptations will help prevent sensory overload.

While this year’s carnival is its 75th iteration, the inaugural event took place in 1941, accounting for nine years during the 84-year span when the carnival was not executed.

As noted by Benjamin Melickian, a teaching assistant at Lincoln who recorded the history of the carnival, there was a hiatus from 1941 to 1949 due to World War II. Another interruption took place in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

However, these discontinuities only account for 8 years within the 84-year timeline for which the carnival did not occur. For this year’s event to be considered the 75th, there was one additional year where the carnival was not organized. To Melickian, this mystery of the ninth cancellation is yet unsolved.

Nonetheless, that is merely history. For Lincoln students, families, and staff, like Tomalis, the focus is on Feb. 1.

This year’s benefactors comprise Bulley and Andrews – its primary sponsor –

Battistoni, Beam and Polivka Orthodontics, Petite Smiles, and Tooth Buds.

The carnival has consistently discovered inventive methods for fundraising. Going back to the first carnival in 1941, which was initiated to gather funds for a movie and sound equipment system, the event offered baked beans for 20 cents and exhibited a “dancing fishpond,” as revealed in Melickian’s research.

At its subsequent event in 1949, the festivities featured a magician, clowns, skeet-ball, and a weight-guessing contest, charging 25 cents for adults with free entry for children. It also included a bake sale.

The carnival’s tradition of delicious baked goods will proceed into 2025. There will be a cakewalk designed for children, where participants walk in a circle and the one who stands on the spot marked with the selected number gets to pick a baked good, graciously provided by attendees.

A key attraction this year is the silent auction. This year’s offerings consist of 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 celebration at Frick Kids Art.

More significantly, Lincoln students are gearing up for some friendly rivalry. Every classroom will design a poster intended for decorating the school’s corridors. Subsequently, staff will cast their votes for their preferred creation, and the classroom with the most votes will receive additional game tickets.

Most importantly, Tomalis aspires for today’s Lincoln students to feel the joy she experienced over 40 years ago.

“[The students] are there for enjoyment,” she expressed.

“It’s genuinely challenging because, again, we’re often busy. But, you know, the opportunity for the kids to see their teachers present on a Saturday, managing the carnival, is a lot of fun.”

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