Guide to FallFest 2025
Event Details
When: Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 11am – 10pm
Where: St. Gerard Majella parking lot and gym
We are excited to share information about FallFest 2025 at St. Gerard Majella Church. Please review this Guide to FallFest 2025 for all the details. We can’t wait to see you there!
History
For those new to the SGM community, FallFest has been a signature parish gathering since 1979. It started as a craft fair with chicken dinner, complete with a cake walk. Forty-six years later, the format has changed, but the mission is still the same: to bring our St. Gerard Majella parish community together as One Family of Faith for a day of food, fun, and fellowship!
What Makes FallFest Possible? Volunteers!
So many people are responsible for bringing FallFest together. But, to truly make the day successful, we need your help! A variety of volunteer opportunities are available via our SignUp Genius link. Please share your gift of time and sign 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, we strongly encourage pre-purchasing your ride and game wristbands and/or tickets (more information on the following pages), leveraging prepaid gift cards or Greenlight debit cards for kids, or just relying on your credit card to make purchases throughout the day. NOTE: there will be NO ATM onsite this year.
Parking and Transportation (NEW FOR 2025)
Parking will be available at Vineyard Community Church on Dougherty Ferry as in prior years; however, FallFest attendees are no longer permitted to park at St. Luke’s Hospital Des Peres. In its place, attendees can use Kirkwood High School’s parking lot off Dougherty Ferry. Shuttle service will be available to/from SGM and Kirkwood High School during FallFest’s operating hours. Shuttle service will not be provided to/from Vineyard Community Church this year. Please park at Kirkwood High School if you would like to take advantage of the shuttle service. Please note that parking on the street in the Apple Hill subdivision will be prohibited per order of the Des Peres Police Department.
What to Expect at FallFest
Food and Beverages
Food and beverage service is available from 11am – 8pm. We will have a variety of menu items in the Main Food Tent including: hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, fries, chicken tenders and pulled pork sandwiches.
Taste of SGM will feature food items from Three Kings Public House and Tres Reyes restaurants for purchase and will be available from 4-7pm.
The Snack Tent will offer Pretzel Boys pretzels, Malt Shop ice cream, candy, water, Gatorade and soda from 11am – 10pm and don’t miss our Beer and Wine tents where adults can purchase canned/tapped beer, wine and seltzers from 11am-10pm.
Entertainment
Carnival rides for all ages will be part of the FallFest fun! Advance ticket and wristband sales are available at 2025 FallFest GiveSmart. Purchases can also be made at FallFest. Carnival rides will operate from 11am – 10pm. We are excited to announce that we have partnered with American Banner Amusements to bring back many of FallFest’s favorite rides of old!
Games and Face Painting for all ages will be available in the gym from 12pm – 5pm. A Photo Booth will be available from 12pm-7pm in the gym lobby. Advance sales for tickets for games, photo booth and face painting can be purchased via the link on the previous page or purchased at FallFest. Contact Laura Robson lbrobson12@gmail.com with questions.
Pony Rides and Petting Zoo (NEW FOR 2025!) The grassy area along Dougherty Ferry and west down to Ballas is where you will find pony rides and a petting zoo from 12-3pm. These experiences are free for all to enjoy.
Live Music will grace the main stage throughout the entirety of FallFest. The current schedule is as follows:
- 11am-2pm: Sweetbottom Band
- 3pm-6pm: Chris Cahill Band
- 7pm-10pm: DJ Joe Fingerhut
Fundraising
Mega Majella – Buy your Mega Majella raffle tickets for $125 a piece and be entered to win the grand prize $25,000 or a new 2025 Kia Seltos*. The grand prize winner will be drawn at approximately 9:30pm. You do not need to be present to win. Mega Majella tickets can be purchased at FallFest or at the Parish Office anytime. Contact Carl Ratermann at carlratermann@yahoo.com with questions.
* The Mega Majella winner is responsible for ALL taxes and licensing associated with taking possession of the 2025 Kia Seltos if the winner selects the car as the grand prize instead of the $25,000.
Dollar Raffle – Our Dollar Raffle tickets are a way for the students to get involved with fundraising. Sheets of tickets are sent home with SGM and PSR students. 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 five prizes totaling $1,500. 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 via online bidding. Visit 2025 FallFest GiveSmart to preview all the items available to bid on. Bidding will begin at 10am the day of FallFest and conclude at 10pm. Contact Jessie Wolf at jwolf@ypo.org with questions.
FallFest Parties – FallFest Parties are a longstanding tradition at SGM. Get some friends together, fill out the FallFest Party Form and raise money for our parish!
All party sign-ups will be available online via this link 2025 FallFest GiveSmart starting at 10am on the day of FallFest and conclude either when a party is full or one week after FallFest. Contact Allyson Prewitt at allysonmprewett@gmail.com with questions.
With Gratitude-A big shout out of thanks to the numerous committee chairs and volunteers who have been pulling together the plans for FallFest 2025 for many months! We look forward to seeing everyone on September 27th.
Mark & Katie Zoia / Brad & Laura Partridge
FallFest 2025 Co-Chairs
sgmfallfestcaptains@gmail.com