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!

Your Gift Guide for Father's Day

I’m sure your dad really does like that tie you got him a few years ago, and he probably has used the power drill you got him a couple of times over the years. Why not switch things up this year and get your dad something rad? Coming up with gift ideas is the hard part, so we’ll take care of that. You and your dad can relax and enjoy celebrating Father’s Day.

If your dad is a master chef:

Maybe he would like a smoker, crock-pot, or a mini indoor grill? Or maybe his grilling tools need an upgrade. You can make it a personalized gift with a fun tag like this one!

If your dad wishes Steve Jobs was his BFF:

Is your dad super into technology? On our Father’s Day Pinterest board, you’ll find some new gifts for the tech-savvy - everything from a custom phone case to a HD recording Drone.

If your dad loves music:

Check out SONOS. It’s an awesome speaker system that your dad can control right from his phone. Get him one for Father’s Day, and next holiday, you can get him another and soon he’ll have them all over the house. Is his favorite band on tour this summer? Get him a couple of tickets to a show, a gift that both of you can enjoy together!

If your dad is a bookworm:

Already planning on getting him some new books? Make him some custom bookmarks like these to make the gift more special. Does your dad like books but not like reading them? Gift him a subscription to Audible, and he can listen to audiobooks right from his phone.

If your dad loves his backyard:

You could buy your dad a fire pit OR you could build one WITH your dad. If you want a simpler outdoor project to undertake on Father’s Day, there are more ideas on our Pinterest board.

“I’m getting him beer”

Great idea! To make that gift even better: get him tickets to a beer festival or go on a brewery tour together.

Happy Father’s Day!

How to Beer Fest: 9 Tips to Make Your First Beer Fest Experience Awesome

Are you a newbie to the huge beer festivals that take place all summer long? Maybe a friend invited you to the summer kick-off festival at a local brewery and you have no idea what it is or what to expect. Don’t fret! With this “How to Beer Fest” guide, you’ll be ready for a beer fest of any size.

Tip #1: Pace Yourself

You’re going to be at the beer fest for a while, so you’ll want to make sure you take it in stride, especially if you’re at the type of festival with unlimited samples.

Tip #2: Eat and Drink Water

While you’re enjoying all the delicious beer, make sure you eat food and drink plenty of water. Drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea! If you’re allowed to bring a bag into the event, stash a bag of pretzels and a water bottle in there.

Tip #3: Be Ready for Long Lines

The lines to grab a beer can get long at times, but you’ll meet plenty of new friends while you wait. Long beer lines also means long lines for the bathroom, so keep that in mind, too.

Tip #4: Enjoy the Activities

The activities can vary depending on who’s throwing the party, but most festivals have games, live music, and maybe even food trucks. Festivals like these are perfect to go to with a group of friends and you’ll have a lot of fun socializing and enjoying the entertainment.

Tip #5: Bring Cash

Don’t leave your house without cash and your ID!

Tip #6: Be Prepared for the Weather

If it’s an outdoor event, you are going to want your sunglasses and a hat. If it’s an outdoor event and it’s raining, make sure you bring a rain jacket.

Tip #7: Dress Accordingly

Wear comfortable, casual clothes. You’re going to an event where people are drinking all day long, so there is a chance you’ll end up going home with some beer on your clothes. Leave your 4” heels at home for this event. Sneakers are ideal since you may be walking around all day.

Tip #8: Transportation

Before the day of the event, do some research to find the best public transportation to take; or go with a designated non-drinking driver. Be responsible!

Tip #9: Have Fun

This one is easy. You’re going to a beer festival. Enjoy it!

Bonus: Upcoming Beer Festivals

American Craft Beer Fest Boston

Boston Bacon and Beer Festival

Woodchuck Ciderstock

New England Brewfest

Great American Beer Festival

Are you one of the wonderful people organizing or pouring at a beer festival? We have an awesome, brand new bottle opener perfect for any brand. Check it out:

To order, email customerservice@gappromo.com or call 978.281.0083

2015 CWE Auction & Gala Celebration

Last Saturday night, April 25, GAP Promo joined CWE in celebrating their 20^th Anniversary at their 2015 Auction & Gala in Boston. It was a fun-filled evening packed with great entertainment and wonderful people, and we were thrilled to be a part of it. At GAP, we believe giving back is important, and as a certified Women Owned Business, this event was a special one for us.

For those of you who don’t know, the Center For Women & Enterprise has four local chapters of the WBENC (The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council). CWE is a non-profit organization that helps people start businesses. When you support CWE, you are supporting women-owned businesses get started and become established.

Typically, CWE will raise close to $500,000 at this annual event. This year, GAP participated in helping raise money for various scholarships. We donated several silent auction items including a Tito’s Handmade Vodka Retro Trailer Grill, a Yuengling Swag Pack, and some fashionable tote bags. We also donated selfie sticks and sunglasses, which were placed at the tables for the guests. They were a huge hit! We think those selfie sticks can even help out with CWE’s Selfie Campaign.

Participating in events like this help create opportunities for women-owned businesses and help them to become economically self-sufficient, strong, and successful. GAP Promo was honored to be there and we look forward to future CWE events!

Check out some photos from the event:

                                      

72nd Annual WSWA Convention Wrap-Up

Last week, the GAP team exhibited at the 72^nd Annual Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Convention & Exposition at Grande Lakes Orlando. This was GAP’s fifth year exhibiting and second year as a sponsor of the convention. Overall, the show was fantastic! Our booth was right at the main entrance of the Mediterranean Ballroom, which attracted a lot of attention and traffic. Our booth was comprised of some of our most interesting display pieces from this past year, including our Tito’s Retro Trailer Grill and Evan Williams Guitar Display. As a sponsor of the event, we had a product display case in the main hallway featuring miniature versions of some of our all-time best displays.

The team had a great time at the show. In addition to walking the floor and learning about many exciting new brands, we attended some amazing keynote speeches given by Coach K from Duke University Men’s Basketball and Robert O’Neill, the former leader of Seal Team Six. We also attended the Opening Night Reception, which featured drinks provided by Heaven Hill, FloridaCaribbean Distillers, Sazerac, and Proximo. We tasted the delicious new Capriccio Bubbly Sangria, which we know is going to be a huge hit.

As with every year, after months of planning, preparation, and anticipation, the convention flew by. As we were disassembling the booth, it felt like we had just finished setting it up. All that time and hard work paid off, because we believe it was our best WSWA Convention yet and we can’t wait for next year!

Here are some photos from the show:

Our booth right before the show opened

Another angle of our booth

Our sponsorship display case

The team at the Opening Night Reception

Opening Night Reception

Keynote speaker Robert O'Neill

New Name. New Look. Same Great Company.

We are very excited to announce that GAP Promotions is now GAP Promo!

We’ve been in business for slightly over 9 years now, so we felt it was time to freshen things up a bit. We will continue being the same creative, customer-oriented promotions company you’ve come to love, just with a new name and look. We promise to continue building our partnerships and bring you the newest, most creative ideas and best customer service out there. Our team of designers and account managers are ready as ever to take on your next project.

We would also like to thank you for your continued business and support. We’re here because of you! This refresh is a symbol of our dedication to you, our clients, and our excitement to keep creating awesome things. Thank you!

Take a look at our brand new logo:

Celebrate Valentine's Day the Single Way!

Valentine’s Day is not just a day for those with significant others, single people can enjoy it too! Here are some suggestions the Gap Team has pulled together on things you can eat, drink, do and watch on Valentine’s Day!

WHAT TO EAT:

Appetizer – Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:

Shredded Chicken

Buffalo Sauce

Ranch or blue cheese dressing

Cream cheese

More blue cheese or cheddar (your preference)

The Main Course - Heart Shaped Pizza

Ingredients:

Dough (store bought of made from scratch)

Sauce

Cheese

Whatever toppings your heart desires

Dessert - Chocolate Chip Brownie Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Cream cheese

Whip cream

Mini chocolate chips

Brownies (from scratch or box)

WHAT TO DRINK:

Dirty Shirley

Chocolate martini

Red wine lollipops

The Noir Rose

WHAT TO DO:

A great way to spend your night is doing some DIY crafts that will look amazing once you are done (did we mention they are super easy too!)

Cork Crafts 

Bottle Glasses

Bottle Cap Magnets

WHAT TO WATCH:

Here are 14 Television Shows that have great V-Day Episodes

Veronica Mars – S1 E15 & S3 E14

Friends – S1 E14,  S6 E17  & S8 E15 

Supernatural  - S5 E14

Smallville – S6 E13 & S9 E13

Charmed – S2 E13

The Simpsons – S4 E15, S10 E14 & S19 E12

That 70’s Show – S1 E16, S4 E17 &  S5 E14

The office – S2 E16, S5 E18 & S7 E16

Modern Family – S1 E15, S2 E14 & S6 E14

How I met Your Mother – S6 E16

30 Rock – S3 E11,  S6 E6

Greys Anatomy – S6 E16

Parks & Recreation – S2 E16 & S4 E14

Glee- S2 E12 & S3 E13