Coco
McCabe

St. Peter’s Fiesta (2019)

Every June, Gloucester, Mass., holds a big party: St. Peter’s Fiesta. Honoring the patron saint of fishermen, who for so long were the economic backbone of this city, the festival runs for days with parades, seine boat races, a blessing of the fleet, a carnival, and a greasy pole contest. For local kids, the days are thrilling; for old-timers they’re filled with nostalgia. If you’re a tourist passing through, the excitement is exhilarating.

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the fun. But in 2019, I caught a few days of the festival, documenting everything from the boat races to the glee of the greasy pole contestants.