Fall Gathering

Every fall, CHECH families gather to open the school year together with faith, food, and fellowship.

This year

Two gatherings, two Saturdays apart

Come to one or come to both. They register separately.

Friday, September 18 · Galveston

Donuts and Pleasure Pier

Donuts at Menard Park, then a walk to the Pier for Homeschool Day tours and rides. A relaxed start to the school year.

Free RSVP · Pier tickets $19, buy by Sept 15

See the Day

Saturday, September 26 · Spring Valley Village

Family Picnic and Folk Dance

Dinner on the lawn, then Meghan Frato teaches family folk dances under the pavilion. Mass beforehand nearby.

$30 donation per family · Register by Sept 23

See the Evening

Friday, September 18 · Galveston

Donuts and Pleasure Pier

Join CHECH families on Galveston Island for donuts at Menard Park, then a walk over to Pleasure Pier for Homeschool Day. A relaxed start to a new school year.

Step 1

RSVP with CHECH (free)

Help us bring enough donuts. Free for everyone, members and non-members. Donuts and coffee at Menard Park starting at 9:00 AM.

RSVP

Step 2

Pier tickets ($19/person)

Tickets are purchased separately through Pleasure Pier and include access to Homeschool Day educational programs. Check-in at the Pier at 10:00 AM.

Must purchase your tickets by 9/15

Pier Tickets

Schedule of the day

9:00 AM

Donuts at Menard Park

Meet CHECH families on the lawn. Casual, no program. Stay as long as you'd like.

10:00 AM

Walk to the Pier

Menard Park is a five-minute walk to Pleasure Pier. Head over together or on your own.

12–3 PM

Educational tours

Pleasure Pier offers history, math, and science tours during Homeschool Day, included with your ticket.

Afternoon

Lunch and rides until close

Pack a lunch or walk to Wendy's or Chick-fil-A nearby. The Pier is open until 9:00 PM.

Plan your day

A few notes to help you pack and find us

CHECH Fall Gathering at Pleasure Pier — donuts 9 AM at Menard Park, Pier check-in 10 AM, $19 per person

✓What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes
Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses
Water bottles
A packed lunch (or walk to Wendy's or Chick-fil-A)
Cash or card for snacks at the Pier

⚑Where to find us

Donuts

Menard Park 2222 28th St, Galveston · free street parking

Pier

Pleasure Pier 2501 Seawall Blvd · premium lot ~$15

Family

Siblings, grandparents, and friends welcome

Weather

Pier rides close in lightning or high wind — check the forecast

Saturday, September 26

Family Picnic and Folk Dance

Dinner on the lawn, folk dancing under the pavilion, and the whole collective together on one Saturday evening.

When

Saturday, September 26
6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Where

Spring Valley Village City Park Pavilion
1025 Campbell Rd

Cost

$30 donation per family
Give more if you can

Deadline

Mass beforehand

Our Lady of Walsingham is minutes away. Confession at 3:45 p.m., anticipatory Mass at 4:30 p.m.

What we provide

Pizza, salad, drinks, and desserts. Meghan Frato will teach family folk dances after dinner.

What to bring

Blankets and lawn chairs, outdoor games like frisbees and soccer balls, and friends and family.

3:45 p.m.

Confession at Our Lady of Walsingham

Minutes from the park. Optional, and a good way to begin the year.

4:30 p.m.

Anticipatory Mass

Also at Our Lady of Walsingham, leaving time to reach the pavilion without hurrying.

6:30 p.m.

Dinner on the lawn

Pizza, salad, drinks, and dessert. Spread out a blanket, find your people, let the children run.

After dinner

Folk dancing with Meghan Frato

Every dance is taught from the beginning. No experience needed, no partner needed, and the little ones are usually first on the floor.

9:00 p.m.

Good night

Many hands make short work of the pavilion. Stay a few minutes if you can.

A $30 donation per family covers pizza, salad, drinks, and dessert. You're welcome to give more. Gifts above the minimum cover families for whom $30 is a stretch and keep us from charging by the head. If $30 isn't workable right now, email [email protected] and we'll register your family.

In the comments box, give us two numbers

How many are coming, and how many will be eating. Those are often different. We order pizza to the eating count, and every slice we don't need is money that could have gone somewhere better. Bringing your own food, or eating beforehand? Say so there too.

$30

Donation per family

Saturday, September 26
6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Spring Valley Village City Park Pavilion

Registration closes September 23

Headcount changed? Email [email protected] before the 23rd and we'll adjust the order.