Guide to FallFest 2023

Event Details

When: Saturday, September 23 2023, from 11am – 10pm

Where: St. Gerard Majella parking lots and gym

We are excited to announce the events for FallFest 2023 at St. Gerard Majella. Please read through our Guide to FallFest 2023 for all the details of this fun-filled day. We can’t wait to see you there!

Just a Little History

For those new to the SGM community, FallFest has been a staple parish gathering since 1979. It started as a craft fair with chicken dinner, complete with a cake walk. 44 years later, the format has changed, but the mission is still the same: to bring our St. Gerard Majella parish family together for a day of food, fun, and community!

What Makes FallFest Possible? Volunteers!

So many people are responsible for bringing FallFest together. But, to truly make the day of FallFest successful, we need your help!  We have a variety of volunteer opportunities available via our SignUp Genius. Please consider signing up for one or more slots. Thank you in advance for your support!

 

Cashless at FallFest

The FallFest team is working to make this event as cashless as possible. While we will still accept cash, and have an ATM on site, we strongly encourage pre-purchasing your ride and inflatable wristbands and/or tickets (more information below), leveraging prepaid gift cards or Greenlight debit cards for kids, or just relying on your credit card to make purchases throughout the day. We appreciate your help in limiting cash at FallFest.

 

Parking and Transportation

Parking will be available at Vineyard Community Church on Dougherty Ferry as well as in the St. Luke’s Hospital parking lot off Dougherty Ferry. A shuttle service will pick up and drop off at both locations throughout the entirety of FallFest.

 

What to Expect at FallFest

Food

Food service runs all day, from 11am – 8pm. We have a variety of menu items including: hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, chicken tenders and chicken breast and pulled pork sandwiches.

Taste of SGM adds another food option for attendees. Three Kings Public House and Tres Reyes  will have additional food options for you to purchase.  They will operate from 4-7pm.

The snack tent will be open all day, from 11am – 10pm. Here you can buy Pretzel Boys pretzels, Ted Drewes, candy, water and soda.

 

Drinks

Don’t miss our Beer Tent!  Here you can pick from a variety of beer on tap, purchase wine and seltzers. While visiting the beer tent, don’t forget to try your luck in Chuck-a-Luck!

 

Bands and DJ music from 12-8pm

 

Entertainment

Carnival rides for all ages will be part of the FallFest fun!  Advance ticket and wristband sales are available at SGMFallFest23.givesmart.com. Purchases can also be made at FallFest. Rides will operate from 11am – 10pm.

Back, by popular demand: GAMES! Carnival games for all ages will be running in the gym from 12pm – 5pm. Advance sales for game tickets can be purchased via the link above or purchased at FallFest. Contact Laura Robson lbrobson12@gmail.com with questions.

 

Fundraising

Mega Majella 50/50 Raffle – Buy your Mega Majella 50/50 raffle ticket for $100 and be entered to win the grand price of 50% of the total ticket sales. Our goal is to sell 500 tickets. That's right, our goal is a winning prize of $25,000! The Early bird winner of the Mega Majella 50/50 Raffle was Jessica Doneff.  The 50/50 grand prize winner will be drawn at the end of FallFest. You do not need to be present to win. Mega Majella tickets can be purchased on FaithDirect or the Parish Office. Contact Martha Heisner marthaheisner@gmail.com with questions.

Dollar Raffle – Our Dollar Raffle tickets are a way for the students to get involved with fundraising.  Sheets of tickets were sent home with SGM students. PSR students can pick up sheets at the back of church. Additional ticket sheets can be found in the school office, the back of church and the parish office. Tickets are $1 each or 12 for $10. Winning tickets will be drawn at the end of FallFest for 5 prizes totaling $1500. Student and homeroom incentives are also available. Contact Liz Lough lizlough@att.net with questions.

Silent Auction – Each year at FallFest we have a variety of silent auction items up for grabs, available via online bidding. Visit GiveSmart or text, and you can preview all the items available to bid on. Bidding will begin at 10am the day of FallFest and conclude at 10:00pm. Contact Leigh-Anne Brueggenjohann leighannebrueggenjohann@gmail.com with questions.

FallFest Parties –All party sign-ups online via this link  GiveSmart. Party sign-ups will begin at 10am on the day of FallFest and conclude either when a party is full or one week post FallFest. Contact Peggy Chandra pegmcginnis@yahoo.com with questions.

A big shout out of thanks to the numerous committee chairs and volunteers who have been pulling together the plans for FallFest 2023! We look forward to seeing you on September 23rd.


With Gratitude-


Matt McHugh & Erin Zlatic
FallFest 2022 Co-Chairs

mattmchughstl@icloud.com
erinzlatic@gmail.com

Advanced Tickets/Wristbands

Carnival Rides

Rides will take 2, 3, or 4 tickets each and run from 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Ride wristbands get you unlimited rides. ($35 advanced purchase or $45 at Fallfest)
Ride tickets are for rides only: $20/24 tickets or $1 each
(same price as day of Fallfest)


GAMES

Games are back and will be in the gym from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Games will be 1-2 tickets. No inflatables.
Advance purchase: $5/15 tickets
$1/ticket when purchased at Fallfest
*The Carnival company will run their own games outside - cash only.
NEW: ALL PRESALE ORDERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE HOSPITALITY BOOTH AT FALLFEST.
We will not be handing out presale orders prior to Fallfest

 

PLEASE PURCHASE WRISTBANDS & TICKETS ON-LINE

GiveSmart:

https://sgmfallfest2023.givesmart.com


Once you register, add the number of wristbands and tickets (Items #1, #2, & #3)
for each item into your cart.
Do not forget to CHECK OUT and pay for Pre-Sale orders.
Silent auction items will be available on the link during Fallfest.


Questions? Contact Mary Ellen Shepard at meshepard26@gmail.com


ORDERS ARE FINAL (NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES) & MUST BE PAID FOR BY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2023.
ORDERS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE WILL NOT RECEIVE ADVANCE PRICING – NO EXCEPTIONS!


ALL PRE-SALE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP AT THE HOSPITALITY BOOTH AT FALLFEST.

FallFest Parties 2023

Fall fest parties are a long-standing tradition at SGM. This is how it works: Get some friends together to host a party to raise money for our parish. We need hosts for grade level parties (girl, boy, parent) and parish-wide parties. Once the parties are planned, you can sign up to attend the parties starting on FallFest Saturday! The cost to attend a party is donated to the parish. So, get a group of friends to host together, choose a theme and a date, then complete a host form. It’s that simple! Ready to host a party? To get a host form, contact Leigh Anne Brueggenjohann, leighannebrueggenjohann@gmail.com, Peggy Chandra, pegmcginnis@yahoo.com, or Lauren Prewitt, lauren.fera@gmail.com.

Click here for Host Form

A few things to keep in mind:

All members of the parish are welcome to host and attend the parties.

Parties do not need to be elaborate events. Keep it easy!

Hosts can limit the number the number of guests for the parish parties to control expenses.

Grade levels are welcome to combine boys and girls into a single party.

Family friendly parties are encouraged.

Parties do not need to be late night affairs. Consider hosting a simple happy hour.

You do not have to host a party at your home. There are plenty of great places to go in St. Louis.

Just a few ideas to consider… Scavenger hunt, backyard Olympics, cooking party, movie night, exercise group, bike ride, food truck, karaoke, cookie decorating, ‘dad and lad’ sporting event, ‘mom and me’ yoga, or just a good old-fashioned potluck. Use your imagination! The more parties hosted, the more our community can gather together and support each other!

Lastly, If you’d like information on reimbursement, please reach out to one of the Fall Fest party heads; Leigh Anne Brueggenjohann leighannebrueggenjohann@gmail.com Peggy Chandra pegmcginnis@yahoo.com or Lauren Prewitt lauren.fera@gmail.com