Fiesta: ‘What we are all about’
After a couple of days of carnival rides and musical entertainment, and a day of competition among seine boat crews and Greasy Pole walkers, America’s oldest seaport in its 400th year gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Friday night to officially kickoff the 96th St. Peter’s Fiesta. The celebration by the city’s Italian-American fishing community in the Fort neighborhood dates to 1927 and is hosted by the St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee. It’s held each year on the weekend closest to the Feast Day of St. Peter. The committee’s president, Joe Novello, took to the massive outdoor altar that Novello, an electrician by trade, wired. In opening the weekend’s festivities, he spoke about the thousands who have gathered in the neighborhood over the years to celebrate Fiesta and shout “Viva San Pietro!” Photos, >click to read< 97:47
Saint Peters Fiesta. I live down the fort where the fiesta takes place. As a matter of fact, my grandfather owned two houses where they hold the fiesta. The city took it by eminent domain in 1952. I sold lemonade at the fiesta when I was ten years old and started rowing in the seine boat races when I was sixteen. My dad would not let me do the greasy pole. In 1959 we won both days and were the champs. I retired after that, but every year I watch the races. It is kind of crazy down here, people come from everywhere are here during the Celebration. I give credit for those who work so hard to make it possible. Sam Parisi