Category Archives: Saint Peter’s Fiesta

CRAZY HAT LADY SAMANTHA BARRETT’S MAGNIFICENT CREATION

Samantha Barrett if a first time Fiesta Crazy Hat Lady

WINNING WALK SHORT FILM – ANTHONY NOVELLO YOUR SATURDAY GREASY POLE CHAMPION!

“I did it for the Fort!”

VIDEO – LEO CANNAVO 2022 FRIDAY GREASY POLE CHAMPION

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEO!

Veteran Greasy Pole Walker Leo Cannavo captures the flag, his first in 20 years of walks. And it’s his birthday!

SCENES FROM ST. PETER’S NOVENA, MASS, AND PROCESSION

The last night of the nine-day Novena concluded with a Mass and procession to Beach Court. With thanks and gratitude to the beautiful Novena ladies for hostessing and organizing the Novena to St. Peter. You could feel the joy in people’s hearts to be back celebrating again in person.

YOUR SATURDAY GREASY POLE CHAMPION ANTHONY NOVELLO!!

CONGRATULATIONS ANTHONY AND FAMILY!

SCENES FROM FRIDAY FIESTA

A glorious Friday Fiesta overflowing with joyful, smiling Fiesta goers. One attendee sweetly spoke about how during Fiesta, the community of Gloucester comes together like one big family, and we all become Sicilian for a weekend. Viva San Pietro!

With thanks and gratitude to the Fiesta Committee for organizing the 2022 St. Peter’s Fiesta, no small feat after a two year hiatus due to Covid. 

Joseph Novello – President

Michael Linquata – Vice President

Anthony Cusumano – Treasurer

Rose Aiello – Clerk

Christopher Palazzola – Committee Member

Salvatore Ferrara – Committee Member

Ralph Puopolo – Committee Member

Carlo Barbara – Committee Member

Rose Aiello – Committee Member

Alphonse Millefoglie – Committee Member

Lucia Sheehan – Recording Secretary

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

the agony

 

Santo Parisi, Friday Greasy Pole

 

YOUR FRIDAY GREASY POLE CHAMPION LEO CANNAVO!!!

Congratulations to Leo and the Cannavo Family <3

NONNA, WHAT IS ST. PETER’S FIESTA?

Charlotte LOVES Nonna, What isSt. Peter’s Fiesta?  and we have given it to many of her friends, and they love it ,too <3

Author Laura shares  – Celebrate St. Peter’s Fiesta with your very own copy of Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta? A great book for children and adults. All proceeds benefit St. Peter’s Fiesta, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit. Available at The Bookstore of Gloucester, Main St. Gloucester.

SAINT PETER’S FIESTA OFFICIAL 2022 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

St. Peter’s Fiesta 2022 Schedule

Tuesday, June 21

6:00 Novena

7:00 Mass

American Legion

Wednesday, June 22
7:00–10:00 p.m.

Musical Entertainment….St. Peter’s Park:
Entertainment featuring “BARRY MOONEY”

                                                                              

Thursday, June 23                   
6:30 p.m.
Fiesta 5K Road Race – with Cape Ann YMCA
Starting location Stage Fort Park,

Finish line at St. Peter’s Park.

For further details, contact the Cape Ann YMCA.

 

8:00
Entertainment, Live Music and Dance at St. Peter’s Park
Featuring ….. “WILDFIRE” 

 

Friday, June 24
4:45 p.m.

Greasy Pole Contest…and…Women’s  Seine Boat Races
Pavilion Beach

 

6:30 p.m.
Entertainment….Before Opening Ceremony

 

7:30 p.m.
Formal Opening ….St. Peter’s Square
Entertainment immediately following

 

8:30 – 11:30 p.m.
featuring  “MORENO FRUZZETTI”

 

Saturday, June 25

10:00 a.m
Pavilion Beach… Seine Boat Race:
U.S. Coast Guard vs Gloucester
Fire Department 
and Gloucester Police Department 

 

10:00 a.m.
Playtime performance of our Children’s story book

“Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta?”

Location: TBD

 

3:00 p.m.
Children’s Games…. Beach Court

 

4:45 p.m.
Sports Events… Pavilion Beach
Seine Boat Races & Greasy Pole Contest

  

8:00
Musical EntertainmentSt. Peter’s Square
featuring “FRANCO CORSO”                                            


Sunday, June 26
10:00 a.m.
Celebration of MASS OF ST. PETER
at St. Peter’s Park

                                   

12:00 noon
Procession following the Celebration of Outdoor Mass

 

3:00 p.m
Blessing of the Fleet… Stacy Boulevard.

4:45 p.m. 
Sports Events…at Pavilion Beach
Seine Boat Races & Greasy Pole Contest

7:15 p.m.
Awards Ceremony
Trophies awarded to winners of the Sports Events

 

8:30 p.m.
Musical Entertainment
St. Peter’s Park featuring
“ GRAZIANA LAZZARO  and ELIO SCACCIO

 

11:00 p.m.
Raffle Drawings and Closing Procession

 

St. Peter’s Fiesta Children’s Book  Nonna, what is St. Peter’s Fiesta” will be on sale at the Main Stage Altar throughout the Fiesta weekend. To purchase a copy before Fiesta, email http://www.stpetersfiesta.org

All proceeds benefit St. Peter’s Fiesta.

Save the Date: Next Year….

St. Peter’s Fiesta, June 21 – June 25, 2023

“St. Peter’s Fiesta ™ ”

Copyright © 2023 St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee.  All Rights Reserved.

THE GREASY POLE SHRINE IS A KNOCKOUT THIS YEAR!

Gloucester’s beloved Greasy Pole Shrine has returned after a two year absence due to Covid. The Shrine is beautiful and meaningful every year however, this year it has expanded. Eric Spear has made some outstanding improvements, including repainting and redesigning signs incorporating both Sicilian and American flags and iconography. Eric has also reprinted nearly every photo, at his own expense, and we know how high the cost of printing cartridges is currently.

Eric taking a break

It’s going to be a fantastic Fiesta!

Viva San Pietro <3

Charlotte practicing Greasy Pole moves

THE SUN RISES…HOPE SOARS

Beautiful Novena to Saint Peter

Saint Peter’s Novena continues nightly at 7pm through Monday night. On Tuesday evening, the 21st, the Novena begins at 6pm, Mass begins at 7pm.

The American Legion

8 Washington Street, Gloucester

LINK TO BEAUTIFUL MASS TO SAINT PETER AT SAINT ANN CHURCH

Saturday afternoon I had the joy to film the mass to Saint Peter at Saint Ann Church. A heartfelt thanks to Mayor Sefatia and Father Jim for the invitation. It was a joyful celebration and they would like to share the mass with the public. Hopefully we can celebrate Saint Peter’s Fiesta next year.

Viva San Pietro! 

Here is the link – Mass to Saint Peter

FIESTA CANCELLED

Gloucester Daily Times

April 15, 2021

The public celebration of St. Peter’s Fiesta will be cancelled for 2021.

As headlines continue to spread the news of the COVID-19 surges in both the United States and overseas, the St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee had to make the call to cancel this year’s festivities because of the uncertainty and the potential health risk.

But the novena – the nine-day prayer service –will take place virtually again this year thanks to the efforts of the group of women who lead this effort each year. The St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee will make details known as the novena organizers’ effort evolves in the coming weeks.

“We want to keep everyone safe and we don’t want to add to the problem,” said St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee President Joe Novello. “It wasn’t an easy decision but we believe it was the only and right decision. We still have to be patient.”

READ the full story hereAlthough Fiesta is cancelled, the Novena will take place virtually

DEREK HOPKINS – YOUR FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY 2019 GREASY POLE CHAMP!

Note to the GP Walkers – Although there was no Greasy Pole due to coronavirus, I was hoping to have this long overdue short completed for the 2020 Saint Peter’s Fiesta weekend, just to cheer everyone up. My son broke several ribs on Friday and instead of editing over the weekend, I was taking care of my family. He’s on the mend and today was my first chance to finish editing. Better late than never I hope.

Viva!

Congratulations to 18 year old Derek Hopkins for winning Gloucester’s Greasy Pole Friday, Saturday, and Sunday competitions!

Derek is only the second walker to win the Friday, Saturday, Sunday trifecta, after Jake Wood (1999).

Derek’s Dad, Rich Hopkins captured the flag in 1996 and 1997. Derek and his Dad are the fourth father-son duo to win the flag.

Note about the music – Eh, Cumpari! or Hey, Goombadi! is a Sicilian song we hear playing often during Fiesta. Sung by Julius La Rosa and released in 1953, it is a cumulative song, in which each verse contains all the previous verses.

From wiki – a rough translation –

Hey buddy, [music] is playing.
What is playing? The whistle.
And what does it sound like—the whistle?
[vocalized instrument sound]

the whistle, [rhythm words]
.
u friscalettu = whistle [small flute]
u saxofona = saxophone
u mandulinu = mandolin
u viulinu = violin
la trumbetta = trumpet
la trombona = trombone

GREASY POLE SHRINE HONORING ANTHONY MATZA GIAMBANCO AND RUSSEL HYNES

Eric Spear’s Greasy Pole Walker’s shrine this year is dedicated to Sunday Champion Anthony Matza Giambanco and Saturday Champion Russell Hynes. Go see, very low key but moving and beautiful.SaintPeter’s

VIVA!

Art Haven’s Fiesta VIVA! mural!

VIRTUAL SAINT PETER’S NOVENA DAY NINE

Although St. Peter’s Fiesta has been canceled this year due to the global pandemic, if you would like to pray the novena to St. Peter, Day Nine  is now available on YouTube.

The beautiful voices of the novena are Jean Marie Linquata, Ann Sanfillippo, Joanne Aiello, Nina Groppo, Grace Cusumano, Caryn Ryder, and Faye Quinlan

To view, click on the arrow in the center of the video and share at  [https://youtu.be/eWxUHbV2WSI]

If you would like to make a donation for future St. Peter’s Fiesta, checks may be made out to: St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee

Send to: St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee

PO Box 3105

Gloucester, MA 01930

See below photos from the 2019 closing night novena and procession to Beach Court

Day Eight photos of the 2019 Saint Peter’s Fiesta Sunday morning procession.

Day Seven photos from Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta 2019 Gloucester Stage Production

Day Six photos from the 2019 Friday Opening Ceremony are posted here

Day Five photos from the 2019 Sunday Mass are posted here

Day Four photos from the 2018 novena are posted here

 Day Three photos from the 2019 novena are posted here

 

 

FATHER ANTONIO’S MASS IN HONOR OF ST. PETER

For the benefit of the Fishermen community of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Preparation to the feast of the Prince of the Apostles.

VIRTUAL SAINT PETER’S NOVENA DAY EIGHT

Although St. Peter’s Fiesta has been canceled this year due to the global pandemic, if you would like to pray the novena to St. Peter, Day Eight is now available on YouTube. My friend Patty wrote and said she is finding listening very soothing and I couldn’t agree more. Please share.

The beautiful voices of the novena are Jean Marie Linquata, Ann Sanfillippo, Joanne Aiello, Nina Groppo, Grace Cusumano, Caryn Ryder, and Faye Quinlan

To view, click on the arrow in the center of the video and share at  [https://youtu.be/WVY51yyAWM8]

Photos below of Saint Peter’s Fiesta Sunday morning procession, 2019

Day Seven photos from Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta 2019 Gloucester Stage Production

Day Six photos from the 2019 Friday Opening Ceremony are posted here

Day Five photos from the 2019 Sunday Mass are posted here

Day Four photos from the 2018 novena are posted here

 Day Three photos from the 2019 novena are posted here