Description

The St. Peter's Fiesta has long attracted visitors from all over the country. It is an annual celebration in Gloucester, MA taking place on the weekend closest to the Feast Day of St. Peter, June 29. The event is sponsored by the Italian-American fishing community of Gloucester.
The St. Peter's Fiesta of recent years provides a varied program certain to be of interest to all. The entire Italian-American section of Gloucester is decorated with flags, bunting, colored lights and streamers. Some fifty archways are erected over the streets, their colored lights presenting an awe-inspiring sight when viewed at night. An enormous altar and double bandstand several stories high form the focal point of the decorations. The life-sized statue of St. Peter is centered on this altar, lavishly decorated with hundreds of flowers. From the bandstand two concert bands alternate in entertaining every evening of the Fiesta. Sunday morning is the annual open air Mass at the Alter at St. Peter's Square. Hundreds of people gather to take part in this religious ceremony. Following the mass is a procession composed of several bands and floats, hundreds of men and women participants, and the statue of St. Peter carried on the shoulders of eight fishermen. Later in the afternoon the crowds witness the blessing of the Italian-American fishing fleet. The fleet of almost one hundred fishing vessels, all gaily decorated with signal flags, presents a most impressive panorama. After the Bishop blesses the fleet, the vessels' fog horns are blown. These blasts can be heard all over Cape Ann. Various sporting events are held each afternoon during the procession. The Greasy Pole is a contest where brave soles run across a grease covered pole trying to capture a flag. The other event is the Seine Boat Races. Here, twelve man crews prove strength and stamina by rowing against each other in old seine boats in a grueling mile long race.  
 

Seine boat races

 Seine Boat Racing is the highlight of the Fiesta sporting activities, dating back to the first city-wide celebration ever held in Gloucester. It is a true test of strength, endurance and team work. Three boats, the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria are manned by twelve member crews. Starting at Pavilion Beach, each boat must row out a half mile, turn around a flag and then row back. The first to hit the beach is declared the winner. Saturday is the elimination race. The top two finishers get to face the defending champs on Sunday. There are also women and junior races. Each crew is made up of ten rowers, a helmsman and a coxswain. Each job is equally important. A small lapse in concentration can mean the difference between first and third place. The rowers provide the strength that propels the boat. Each stroke must be long and smooth. Rowers must be able to endure the grueling mile course without tiring. The helmsman's responsibility is to steer the mighty craft. Many times a crew was the first to the turning point but the helmsman could not negotiate the turn properly. Valuable seconds were lost and so was the race. The coxswain's job is to make sure all the rowers stay in sync. If even one rower is out of sync then the boat is not moving at optimum speed and which be costly. The seine boat was a common method used long ago by the fisherman to haul in fish that were captured in their floating nets. The fish and seine boat were then loaded onto a larger vessel and when the boat reached it capacity, it headed for port. Since most of Gloucester's fishing fleet stayed in port during the Fiesta, the seine boats were available for competitive racing. large enough to hold most of the crew of a fishing boat, the seine boats were used to settle race challenges issued between boat crews, each boasting the best and the strongest men in the fleet.

Greasy pole

  The Greasy Pole is a most unique contest indeed. It takes place 200 feet off Pavilion Beach. A forty-five foot telephone pole is attached to a platform and extends out over the water. A red flag is nailed to a stick at the end of the pole which is then heavily greased. Then, one by one contestants take their turn trying to tear off the makeshift flag pole before slipping and and falling into the water. Some contestants sprint out like racehorses hoping momentum will carry them to the end of the pole. Others take a very slow approach, one step at a time, always trying to maintain their balance. It is not uncommon for these daring individuals to come away with scrapes, bruises or even broken ribs. The first round is considered the courtesy round. Nobody is allowed to capture the flag. This allows all contestants to participate in the event. Once the first round is complete the contest officially begins and each individual gets his chance to walk. The event usually takes two to four rounds for someone to win but sometimes it can go as long as six or seven rounds. Once a contestant captures the flag he then swims to the beach with all the other contestants. He is then lifted onto to the shoulders of his fellow walkers and paraded around the town. The Greasy Pole contest takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Pavilion Beach immediately following the Seine boat races. The Friday and Saturday contest are for those lucky enough to get their names on the select list of walkers. The Sunday walk is composed of only of the previous day's winner, past champions and protégés who walk for former champions.