Congratulations to Colin Sweet! This is Colin’s first win.
I lost track, did Collin take the flag on the third or fourth round? Many ‘near grabs’ that will haunt the Walker forever, including a miss by Nick Taormina that left the flag dangling.
Samantha Barrett if a first time Fiesta Crazy Hat Lady
“I did it for the Fort!”
Veteran Greasy Pole Walker Leo Cannavo captures the flag, his first in 20 years of walks. And it’s his birthday!
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.
CONGRATULATIONS ANTHONY AND FAMILY!
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 agony
Santo Parisi, Friday Greasy Pole
Congratulations to Leo and the Cannavo Family <3
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.
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!
Charlotte practicing Greasy Pole moves
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
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.
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 here
Although Fiesta is cancelled, the Novena will take place virtually
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.
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
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 
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.
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
For the benefit of the Fishermen community of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Preparation to the feast of the Prince of the Apostles.
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.
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
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 Seven 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.
To view, click on the arrow in the center of the video and share at [https://youtu.be/OusqfWG3bSA]
Photos below from Laura Ventimiglia’s Nonna, What is Saint 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
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 Six is now available on YouTube. Please share.
To view, click on the arrow in the center of the video and share at [https://youtu.be/_hSW-zo_wS8]
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
The following batch of photos, “Confetti Kids,” are from the 2019 Friday night opening celebration
Day Four photos from the 2018 novena are posted here
Day Three photos from the 2019 novena are posted here
The following batch of photos are from the 2019 mass at Saint Peter’s Square
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 Five is now available on YouTube. Please share. To view, click on the arrow in the center of the video and share at [https://youtu.be/Kkf9bKlAmmI]
