Darien's Royle Round Up is back in the saddle. The school fair with cowboy-themed games and family activities was a regular feature in town before it was stopped about 15 years ago. But a group of Royle Elementary parents, led by Shannon Silsby and Allison Ball, have brought it back to give kids a chance to experience some old-fashioned fun.
"This was really driven by a lot of adults who grew up in town and remembered the old Round Up and wanted to bring it back for their kids," Silsby said. In this day of overscheduled lives and digital distractions, she is pleased to supply kids with some simple activities such as lasso tossing, pony rides and face painting.
The efforts paid off Sunday as dozens of children decked out in cowboy gear ran around and tried to take part in every activity. There was a Strength-O-Meter, which one parent had kept in his basement since the last time the event was held. Kids showed off their strength by swinging a hammer and ringing a bell.
One of the biggest attractions was the goldfish tank, where kids lined up to get a goldfish in a bag. Many also had their hair dyed strange and unusual colors. The Cake Walk game was popular, and many kids won cakes that were donated by every bakery in town.
"It's about bringing people out for something that's old, but new to them," Ball said. The parents worked for about a year to put the event together, building games and set pieces based on the activities they remembered from their childhood. They dug out an old Round Up Cookbook from 1985 and replicated the famous Buckaroo cookie that was sold at the old Round Up.
Ball said that after the success of Sunday's revived Round Up, they're hoping to bring it back next year and keep the tradition alive.
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