Buona Fiesta!

Our hometown of Gloucester, Massachusetts is bustling. Tonight, St. Peter’s Fiesta begins, bringing the Gloucester community and surrounding area together for five days of fun and celebration.

Read below for the full 2015 schedule of events.

Who is St. Peter and why do we throw a fiesta in his name? 

St. Peter is the patron saint of the fisherman. Every year, the Italian-American community of Gloucester throws a five-day festival in his name. People come from all over to enjoy the carnival, watch the boat races, and witness the famous greasy pole contest!

Carnivals and boat races sound pretty normal for a fiesta… but WHAT is this greasy pole contest?

Since 1931, men have been running (or falling) onto a greased up 45-foot telephone pole that extends over the water. The goal: to grab the red flag at the end of the greasy pole. The contestants go through several rounds until the flag is grabbed, but the first is a courtesy round. No one can grab the flag during round one… or else. According to stpetersfiesta.org, in 1979, someone grabbed the flag during round one and was confronted by "the sheriff" of the greasy pole. He was given a knuckle sandwich and the flag was placed back at the end of the pole.  It’s an event that you won’t want to miss!

In case you aren’t going to make it, here is a look at what it would be like if the GAP team participated in this year’s greasy pole contest!

JAMIE

JEFF

JUSTIN

KIM

MARISSA

MIKE

PAT 

SAM 

ERICA

KATHRYN

2015 St. Peter’s Fiesta Schedule

Wednesday 6/24

7:00-10:00 pm: Musical Entertainment (Barry Mooney and Friends) @ St. Peter’s Park

Thursday 6/25

6:30 pm: Fiesta 5k Road Race from Stage Fort Park to St. Peter’s Park

8:00-10:00 pm: Dance & Music Entertainment (Jenny Dee and the Delinquents) @ St. Peter’s Park

Friday 6/26

4:45 pm: Greasy Pole Contest @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Women’s Seine Boat Races @ Pavilion Beach

7:30-11:30 pm: Formal Opening and Music Entertainment (Seabreeze) @ St. Peter’s Square

Saturday 6/27

9:30 am: Family Activity Day (details at Newell Stadium)

10:00 am: Military Seine Boat Race @ Pavilion Beach (US Coast Guard vs. US Navy and Gloucester Fired Department vs. Gloucester Police Department)

3:00 pm: Children’s Games @ Beach Court

4:45 pm: Sports Events @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Greasy Pole Contest @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Seine Boat Races @ Pavilion Beach

8:00-11:30 pm: Musical Entertainment (Panorama) @ St. Peter’s Square

Sunday 6/28

10:00 am: Celebration of Mass of St. Peter @ St. Peter’s Park

12:00 pm: Procession following the Celebration of Outdoor Mass

3:00 pm: Blessing of the Fleet @ Stacy Boulevard    

3:00 pm: US Navy Band Northeast Concert @ St. Peter’s Park

4:45 pm: Sports Events @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Greasy Pole Contest @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Seine Boat Races @ Pavilion Beach

6:30 pm: Children’s Piñata Contest @ Pascucci Court

6:30-7:15 pm: Musical Entertainment (Jimmy Geany) @ St. Peter’s Square

7:15 pm: Awards Ceremony

8:30 pm: Musical Entertainment (Paul London) @ St. Peter’s Park  

11:00 pm: Raffle & Closing Procession

Save the date for next year! St. Peter’s Fiesta is June 22 – June 26, 2016.

Bonus: There's a greasy pole game!