St. Juliana’s annual Fall Festival is just around the corner! This weekend, Sept. 22-24, a beloved community tradition will be underway right next door, and, as a St. Juliana alumna who has gone every year since she was seven, I’m here to give you my official list of Fall Festival do’s and don’ts:
1) Don’t park on the field. If you want to wait 30 minutes to leave once the festival is over, then be my guest… but if you want a quick and easy entrance and exit, then I would highly recommend parking in one of the nearby neighborhoods and walking over.
2) Go on all of the best rides. Let’s be honest, the main reason you go to a fair is for the carnival rides. I firmly believe that every Fall Festival attendee must go on at least one of these rides before the night at the fair is over: the “Zipper,” “Tornado,” “Starship 2020,” “Cliff Hanger,” and/or “Bear Affair.” My personal favorite is the “Zipper” because I find it fun to be trapped in a small, rickety cage flipping about 20 times per minute; but, if that’s not for you, my second favorite is the “Cliff Hanger” which is much more tame and way less cage-like!
3) Play the carnival games. The games are a great way to have a lot of fun if you’re not necessarily a huge ride person. There are a plethora of booths, each with a different game and set of prizes to win. My favorites are ring toss or any game where you can win a liter of soda.
4) Go to the Filipino food stand. It has the longest line, but for good reason: the food is absolutely delicious! Every year it is instantly a crowd favorite, and although the line may be longer than the line for the pizza, it is SO worth it. My top recommendation would have to be the Lumpia (egg rolls) because they have the perfect amount of crunch and are the perfect size to carry as you walk around the festival.
5) Eat the most infamous carnival musts: funnel cakes and Dippin’ Dots! St. Juliana makes some of the best funnel cakes ever. They’re perfectly crispy on the outside, and warm and fluffy on the inside. Plus, there are plenty of toppings to choose from, such as powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, strawberry jam, and even condensed milk. Then, once you’re done with your funnel cake, you can head right on over to the Dippin’ Dots booth next door and grab yourself another sweet treat. My favorite flavor is “Rainbow Ice,” but I honestly think all of them are pretty equally delectable!
6) Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Although the festival may seem small, you will actually do much more walking than you think. I would advise everyone to wear comfortable tennis shoes or sneakers, as well as clothing that isn’t too constricting or uncomfortable.
7) Pro tip: buy your ride tickets as soon as you arrive! The lines at the ticket booths only get longer and longer the later it gets. So, if you want to make the most out of your night, I’d suggest getting the ticket buying out of the way first. That way, you’ll have the entire night to enjoy the all of the festivities.
8) Listen to the live band. In years past, I remember that I always used to regret not going to watch the live band perform at least once during the weekend. So, if you’re eating dinner or need to give your feet a break, I highly suggest going down to the main stage and listening to some really great live music!
9) This should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyways: Be respectful to the ride workers and fellow festival attendees. I know a Rosary Royal would never be disrespectful, but it’s just a customary rule to follow and keep in the back of your mind while you are at the festival. For instance, don’t be the person who cuts in line or sneakily gives less tickets than are required to ride. Keep the festival fun and fair for everyone.
10) And finally, the most important thing I will say: HAVE FUN! This festival only comes around once a year, so make the most out of it. Ride the rides, play the games, listen to the music, eat the food… enjoy the weekend while it lasts!
Hopefully this gave you some helpful insight on how to make the most of this amazing event. With the festivities fast approaching, be sure to follow this advice in order to have a fun time at this year’s Fall Festival!
