Darien's Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival This Weekend

From the Darien Police Department: DARIEN, CT — The Darien Police Department is issuing this traffic advisory in order to alert motorists of a travel restriction/partial road closure occurring on Saturday, October 14th in the area of Tokeneke School. The school, located on the corner of Tokeneke Road and Old Farm Road, will be holding its annual Pumpkin Fair on the above listed date. Rain date is Sunday, October 15th.

Between the hours of 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Old Farm Road (at Tokeneke Road) will be closed to all incoming traffic. It will be open for outgoing traffic only. All Tokeneke area residents (and guests of residents) are advised to enter the Tokeneke area through the alternate entrances of Arrowhead Way, Driftway Lane, or Five Mile River Road.

Ample off-street parking is available for those attending the fair at Colangelo Group (120 Tokeneke Road) or Zoto’s International (100 Tokeneke Road). On-street parking will also be permitted on Tokeneke Road as posted. As in the past, there is no parking allowed on Old Farm Road. Additionally, there is no parking at any time on any private road of the Tokeneke Association.

The Tokeneke Park Police will be patrolling the private roads of the Tokeneke Association to deter violations.
The Darien Police Department will have officers assigned to the event to assist both motorists and pedestrians.

This designated traffic and parking pattern makes travel through the area safer for all. If traveling in the area, please expect minor delays and watch for pedestrians of all ages. Motorists not attending the event should consider alternate routes to their destination.

From the Tokeneke PTO: DARIEN, CT — The Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival is an established favorite fall activity for Fairfield County families, offering something spooky and fun for children both big and small. Every October for over fifty years, the Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival has transformed the Tokeneke Elementary School, located on Old Farm Road in Darien, into a Halloween-themed haunted house and amusement park where kids of all ages can find delicious food, unique games and activities plus a wide variety of mechanical rides. This year, the Pumpkin Carnival is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The rain date for the event will be on the following day (October 15th).

The 2017 Pumpkin Carnival features rides and attractions suitable for a wide variety of ages. For those seeking a thrill, make sure to try Ali Baba, the Cliffhanger and Zero Gravity. Preschoolers are sure to love the cars, trains and spin rides. In addition, the haunted house is not to be missed! The Carnival will feature a variety of new lawn games and activities plus familiar favorites like Pumpkin Plinko, Ghoulie Goalie and the Apple Launch. This year, School of Rock and Dance on the DL will perform during the event.

Carnival participants will also be able to enjoy a wide array of tasty foods and beverages from local Darien restaurants, such as Burgers Shakes & Fries, Heights Pizza, Meatball & Co., UCBC, plus the Melt Mobile. A Newman’s Own lemonade stand will serve refreshments.

Tokeneke Elementary School is once again partnering with Darien Human Services to offer area families the opportunity to participate in the annual Pumpkin Carnival Fundraiser, free of charge. Last year, ten families that would not have otherwise been able to attend were provided with free ride and game tickets, as well as complimentary food and drinks. In 2017, we will look to the generosity of the Tokeneke school community to expand last year’s inaugural program and include more eligible Darien families in this initiative.

The Tokeneke Parent Teacher Organization (TPTO) is responsible for organizing the Pumpkin Carnival. Local businesses are the key supporters of the event, and The Darien Sport Shop will once again be this year’s title sponsor supported by Darien Rowayton Bank and Newman’s Own. Some of the other sponsors include: NOLA Physical Therapy, Dr. David Osherow, D.D.S; DEANE, Speed Printing & Graphics (SP&G), The Darien News, Heights Pizza, Burger Shakes and Fries, UCBC, Stew Leonard’s, The Studio, and Kempo Academy.

The funds raised at the Pumpkin Carnival provide funding for the Enrichment Program at the Tokeneke Elementary School. Over the years, the Enrichment Program has helped bring inspirational guests in the arts and sciences into the classroom for personal discussion and instruction with students.

“We are so proud to work closely with the greater Darien community to create a memorable day of family fun. “Please join us to enjoy the rides, old-fashioned games and delicious food and get a head start on the Halloween spirit!” said Jodi Sorrells, a Tokeneke parent and Co-Chair of this year’s event along with fellow Tokeneke parents and Co-Chairs Katie Pettit and Gina Gromelski.

Tokeneke School is one of five elementary schools in Darien. Located on Old Farm Road, Tokeneke serves approximately 500 students from preschool through fifth grade. The principal is Mary C. Michelson.

To learn more about the 2017 Pumpkin Carnival please visit the website; LIKE us on Facebook; and FOLLOW us on Instagram through the TPTO @tokeneke_pto.

Image via the Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival's Facebook page