By Julie Ann Funkenstein | Lifestyle Editor
Every June, the people of Gloucester emerge from their winter dens and begin yelling again — but this time it’s festive. That’s because of St. Peter’s Fiesta, a five-day celebration of Catholicism, community, and extremely preventable concussions.
A Brief and Incomplete History
The event honors St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen and the only apostle Jesus trusted with a boat. What began in 1927 as some run-of-the-mill idol worship has evolved into a sacred union of Catholic ritual and absolute municipal chaos, described by one local as “a cross between Easter Mass and a demolition derby.”
Where It Happens
Most events take place near St. Peter’s Square, on the working waterfront between Rogers Street, the inner harbor, and the traditionally Italian section of town known as “The Fort.” The statue of St. Peter, dressed annually in the finest ecclesiastical drip, watches over it all like a benevolent seafood pope.
Parking is a myth. Take the commuter rail, park elsewhere and walk, or simply abandon your car to the sea and let St. Peter sort it out.
What You’ll See
Religious Festivities: Participants carry the statue of St. Peter through the streets to music and applause and a man in a fancy hat blesses some boats.
The Carnival: Rides, games, and an unlicensed psychic named Tina who will absolutely curse you if you cheat at ring toss.
Seine Boat Races: Twelve member rowing teams compete in old-school fishing boats, sort of like crew but with more shouting and less Ivy League energy.
The Greasy Pole
Gloucester’s most cherished and least OSHA-compliant tradition, Fiesta’s signature event is the Greasy Pole contest, where grown men risk their spinal alignment for a flag and community respect. Contestants run across a wooden pole suspended above the harbor, slicked with Crisco and generational trauma. Falling is considered an honor. Winning is also considered an honor. Staying dry is considered suspicious.
Fiesta Etiquette: A Quick Guide
- Don’t call it “Fisherman Coachella.” You will be hit with a chair.
- If someone hands you a sausage sandwich, accept it. This is not a choice; it’s a covenant.
- Shirtlessness is not frowned upon. In fact, it is encouraged, expected, and in some neighborhoods, required.
- Don’t walk the pole unless you’ve trained, prayed, and signed at least three waivers.
Final Thoughts
Fiesta is not a tourist trap — it’s a generational ritual, a community’s expression of faith, family, and fishing. Yes, it’s loud. Yes, it’s sweaty. And yes, there’s something holy in the chaos.
Come for the history. Stay for the drama. Leave with a sunburn, a plastic sword, and a paper plate full of something hot and unidentifiable.
The Dogtown Reader 