Essex Park and Recreation

Essex Park and Recreation Creating Community Through People Parks and Programs

Hello Park and Rec Friends,We’d love to invite you to join us for a fun Essex Park and Recreation Tradition— the Villag...
10/02/2026

Hello Park and Rec Friends,
We’d love to invite you to join us for a fun Essex Park and Recreation Tradition— the Village Costume Parade & Pumpkin Festival
The Costume Parade will kick off the Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, October 24, bringing costumed participants down Main Street and into the heart of the festivities.
Costume Parade Details
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Meet-up: 4:15 PM
Step-off: 4:30 PM
Meet at the corner of Walnut Street & Main Street in Ivoryton
This is a marching costume parade only — no vehicles or bicycles. Everyone participating in the parade should come in costume!
While the parade is especially geared toward children ages 12 and under, we’d love to have all-age participants join us. Families, groups, organizations, and community members are all welcome to march — in your favorite Halloween costume!
The parade leads right into the Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival from 5:00–7:00 PM, featuring hundreds of glowing carved pumpkins on the Ivoryton Village Green, horse & wagon rides, face painting, a photo booth, tarot card readings, and plenty of Halloween fun throughout the village.
Pre-registration is appreciated, but not required. Click Here to Register!!
We hope you’ll join us on October 24 and help us fill Main Street with costumes as we kick off one of Ivoryton’s favorite fall traditions!
Happy Halloween!

Save the Date Essex Board of Trade FestiFall 2026 is on Saturday, October 3rd from 1 to 4 pm.This year's theme: Haunted...
09/30/2026

Save the Date Essex Board of Trade FestiFall 2026 is on Saturday, October 3rd from 1 to 4 pm.
This year's theme: Haunted History!
They will also have pumpkins available; get yours to carve for the Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival for a suggested $10 donation!
Fun free activities include:
Pencil & Wool – “Faces of Essex” canvas – in front of the post office (rain plan inside)
Blissful Beauty – face painting at the Gris Courtyard; tattoos near Toys Ahoy
CT River Museum – RiverTales crafts outside
Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt
Games/Activities in Park
Free crafts throughout town
Dirty Soda food truck
Co****le and large Connect4
Free caricatures
Petting Zoo
Free photos at the gazebo

ONE MONTH TO GO! 🎃We are officially just ONE MONTH away from the Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival — Saturday, October 2...
09/24/2026

ONE MONTH TO GO! 🎃
We are officially just ONE MONTH away from the Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival — Saturday, October 24!
And we need YOUR help to make Ivoryton glow!
More than 100 pumpkins need to be carved and displayed on the Ivoryton Village Green, and there are several ways for you, your family, friends or organization to be part of this great Ivoryton tradition!
🎃 Wednesday, October 21 – Brickside Pizza
Join the fun at their Pumpkin Carving Party!
🎃 Thursday, October 22 – Ivoryton Library
Another chance to grab a pumpkin and get carving!
🎃 Saturday, October 24, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM – Bushy Hill Nature Center
Join the Pumpkin Carving Party on festival day!
🎃 Want to carve at home?
Families can also pick up a pumpkin ahead of time, carve it at home and have it become part of the glowing pumpkin display on the Ivoryton Village Green!
All carved pumpkins should be returned to the Ivoryton Village Green by 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 24. Don’t worry about candles — we supply them!
If you would like to take your pumpkin home after the festival, please pick it up by 7:00 PM on October 24. Essex Park & Recreation is not responsible for pumpkins left on the Green after the festival ends.
A HUGE thank you to the Town of Essex – Government Police Union for generously sponsoring the pumpkins again this year and helping us continue this wonderful community tradition.
Then come back Saturday afternoon and see your pumpkin glowing as part of the display!
👻 4:30 PM – Ivoryton Village Costume Parade & Pumpkin Festival
🎃 5:00–7:00 PM – Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival
Enjoy horse & wagon rides, live music, face painting, a photo booth, tarot card readings, Trunk or Treat, refreshments, costumes and, of course, 100+ glowing pumpkins lighting up the Ivoryton Village Green!
We have the pumpkins. Now we need the carvers!
Grab your family. Grab your friends. Carve a pumpkin. Wear your costume. And help us make the Ivoryton Village Green glow!
ONE MONTH TO GO — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24! 🎃

As part of this year’s Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival on October 24th, we’re bringing back our Pumpkin Festival Costu...
09/23/2026

As part of this year’s Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival on October 24th, we’re bringing back our Pumpkin Festival Costume Parade, geared especially toward children 12 and under. All costumed participants are welcome to join in the fun!

Parade Details

Meet: Corner of Walnut Street & Main Street, Ivoryton
Meet-up: 4:15 PM
Step-off: 4:30 PM

The parade will step off from the corner of Walnut and Main Street and march down Main Street to kick off the Pumpkin Festival festivities!

Registration

Pre-registration is appreciated but not required. A sign-up for children ages 0–12 will be available through Essex Recreation:

Costumes are encouraged, creativity is welcome, and most importantly—come ready to have some Halloween fun!

We can’t wait to see Ivoryton filled with little witches, superheroes, monsters, pumpkins, and all kinds of spooky and silly characters!

Come in costume and help us get the Pumpkin Festival started!

See you on Main Street

🎭 ENCORE AFTER SCHOOL THEATRE CLUB IS BACK! 🎭 Essex Park & Recreation is excited to bring back Encore After School Theat...
09/16/2026

🎭 ENCORE AFTER SCHOOL THEATRE CLUB IS BACK! 🎭

Essex Park & Recreation is excited to bring back Encore After School Theatre Club, a program created especially for our elementary students!

The program will be led by Meg Caulfield, a long-time Region 4 employee with extensive experience working with elementary-aged children. Meg has also partnered with Essex Park & Recreation for many years and brings great energy, creativity, and classroom experience to everything she does.

Encore is a fun, high-energy program for students in Grades 2–6 who love to act, imagine, move, and try something new! Each week will include theatre games, improv, character development, and stage movement — all designed to build confidence, communication skills, creativity, and teamwork in a supportive setting.

🎬 The 8-week session will wrap up with a small showcase for family and friends!

📅 Tuesdays: September 22 & 29; October 6, 13, 20 & 27; November 3 & 10
⏰ 3:15–4:15 PM
📍 Essex Elementary School
🎭 Grades 2–6
💲 Fee: $150

Program starts September 22 — register today!

Essex Park & Recreation
www.essexct.gov

THANK YOU Brickside Pizza for hosting a pumpkin carving party to support the Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival. Mark you...
09/14/2026

THANK YOU Brickside Pizza for hosting a pumpkin carving party to support the Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival. Mark your calendars Oct 21 to Join in the fun and get some great pizza while u are at it!!!

Fall programs are open for registration!! Check out the variety of programs we have to offer this fall and we hope to se...
09/02/2026

Fall programs are open for registration!! Check out the variety of programs we have to offer this fall and we hope to see you at one!!

🎃🔪 CASTING CALL: PUMPKIN CARVERS WANTED! 🔪🎃The Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival needs YOU!Are you an expert pumpkin car...
09/02/2026

🎃🔪 CASTING CALL: PUMPKIN CARVERS WANTED! 🔪🎃

The Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival needs YOU!

Are you an expert pumpkin carver? An enthusiastic amateur? Do you love carving with friends, family, or someone special?

Maybe you’re part of a:
🎃 Community Group
🏀 Sports Team
🏢 Local Business
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family or Group of Friends
🥳 Or planning your own Pumpkin Carving Party?

WE SUPPLY THE PUMPKINS — YOU SUPPLY THE CARVERS!

Help us fill Ivoryton Village with glowing jack-o’-lanterns for this year’s Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, October 24!

It’s easy:
🎃 Reserve your pumpkins with Essex Park & Recreation
🔪 Gather your carving crew and get creative
🚗 Bring your finished, carved pumpkins to the Festival on October 24 between 9:00 AM–3:00 PM

Every pumpkin helps make the Festival bigger, brighter, and more magical for our community!

📞 Call Essex Park & Recreation at 860-767-4340 ext. 110 for more information and to reserve your pumpkins.

Grab your crew. Grab your carving tools. We’ll provide the pumpkins! 🎃

Address

29 West Avenue
Essex, CT
06426

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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