St. Peter’s Fiesta is a local celebration that has grown over the years to become a city-wide party. The 5-day festival, sponsored by the Italian American community in Gloucester, honors St. Peter, the patron saint of all fishermen. Once a small “blessing of the fleet,” St. Peter’s Fiesta now also features parades, Seine boat races, a 5k race, a carnival, live music, and the famed greasy pole contest. The full program of events for this year’s festival can be viewed on the St. Peter’s Fiesta official website.
The Greasy Pole
One of this fishing port’s biggest spectator draw during St. Peter’s Fiesta and most sacred test of all is the greasy pole. The pole is 40 feet of wood piling extending from a 4-story platform a few hundred yards off Pavilion Beach. Most of the year, it sits idle, a totem to the glory it has brought and the people it has broken. But the Friday of St. Peter’s Fiesta — the biggest event on the city’s calendar — crews slather the pole with Crisco, bacon fat, fish guts, and whatever local bars and restaurants could come up with to make it a slippery mess.
One by one, walkers will attempt to cross and retrieve the red flag at the end of the greasy pole. Some bruising and crushed egos will take place in front of huge crowds of spectators on the water and on the beach. The prize for walking the pole’s length is a type of fame hard to fathom anywhere but here. The flag gets you carried through town, a free drink at every public house, and an authentic stature in the city that lasts a lifetime.
Where to Stay During St. Peter’s Fiesta
Atlantic Vacation Homes offers a wide variety of vacation rental homes in or near downtown Gloucester and across Cape Ann. We can easily find you a perfect home base from which to enjoy all of Fiesta’s delights. To book your accommodations, simply view available rentals and enter your desired dates to get a quote. You can also call toll-free at (855) 853-9143 to speak with a Guest Experience Specialist.
