Copyright Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Sunday wraps up an expanded Fall Festival at The Mount in Pleasant Plains, concluding a three-day celebration that brought thousands out for seasonal fun and fundraising. The weekend event, held at Mount Loretto, featured what organizers described as the island’s largest pumpkin patch alongside lighted interactive inflatables, children’s rides, vendors, beer and sangria gardens, pony rides, a petting zoo, and diverse food options. This year’s festival introduced “Mayhem at the Mount,” a professionally built haunted attraction that debuted Saturday night. The one-night-only experience was limited to 500 tickets and added a spooky element to the otherwise family-friendly weekend. Saturday’s activities also included zeppole and apple cider donut eating contests, while Sunday featured live entertainment from Music By Patrick. Visitors had numerous dining choices with food vendors including Montalbanos of Rosebank, Rosalia & Ashley Zeppoles, Mac Truck, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Roe’s Famous Kettle Corn, Parelli’s Wood Fired Pizza, Fina’s Farmhouse, Fil-A-Bun, Gnocchi On The Go, I Got Balls, and Twisted Steaks. On Sunday, admission is $5 per person, with children 10 and under entering free. Proceeds from the event will support Catholic Charities of Staten Island’s community programs. Mount Loretto, where the festival took place, is a 200-acre protected area in Pleasant Plains managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Catholic Charities of Staten Island traces its roots to 1871, when Father John C. Drumgoole founded the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin for the Protection of Homeless and Destitute Children. The Staten Island site was established in 1883 and continues serving the community as a not-for-profit agency under the Archdiocese of New York. More information and ticket info is available at cc-si.org.
