St. Peter’s Fiesta in Gloucester, MA

July 10, 2014

The winner of the Greasy Pole Contest celebrates and carries the flag as he returns to shore during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA. The contest has been held since 1931 and involves participants running along a greased horizontal pole over Gloucester Harbor.

Competitors participate in the Greasy Pole Contest during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People watch as confetti is shot into the air during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People watch as the Fiesta Queen passes by in the Sunday procession during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Groups of men carry religious statues and icons, including Saint Peter and Mary, through the streets of Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA, as part of a procession and parade during St. Peter's Fiesta.

Bishop Arthur Kennedy of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston leads the Blessing of the Fleet near Gloucester Harbor during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Pictures of former Greasy Pole Contest winners hang on a wall on Commercial Street in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA. The contest began in 1931.

Children hold decorated oars at the edge of the Sunday Procession during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Men collect donations and attach them to religious statues in the Sunday Procession during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Spectators gather on the beach to watch Siene boat races and the Greasy Pole Contest at St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People drink alcohol on a porch during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Marching bands wait for the start of the Sunday Procession at St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People fill balloons and make balloon arches for the Sunday procession during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People call out blessings and celebrations to various saints with chants such as "Viva San Pietro" during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Crosses and crucifixes are visible in St. Peter's Square during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Children walk along a funhouse bridge as people walk through the carnival area during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Men take a statue of St. Peter down at the end of the day during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

A rootbeer and lemonade stand was in the midway at the carnival during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

A carnival worker lays on the ground between trucks and trailers at the carnival of St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Spectators gather on the beach to watch Siene boat races and the Greasy Pole Contest at St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Groups of men carry religious statues and icons, including Saint Peter and Mary, through the streets of Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA, as part of a procession and parade during St. Peter's Fiesta.

A man gets ready to play a carnival baseball game during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Participants celebrate after winning the Siene Boat race during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

I'm a sucker for small-town community events. I'm drawn in by the display of local pride and little unique touches that differentiate these festivals, parades, and other public gatherings. Gloucester's St. Peter's Fiesta has been on my radar since moving to Boston, but this is the first year I made it up to witness the religious processions, carnivals, and greasy pole contests. I tried something a little different with this one, going for a very saturated and colorful look in the pictures. More images are available in my archive: St. Peter's Fiesta 2014 - Gloucester, Massachusetts