This was shot on the closing night of Gloucester Massachusetts’ famed Saint Peters Fiesta.

    This year was, weather-wise, pretty nice, although the fog postponed the fireworks and so they will be combining them together with those the town shoots up the day before the Fourth of July, this coming Thursday. A show upon a show! They’re set off from the top of Stage-Fort Park, and visible from all around the harbor both North and South. For many seasons I have shot them from this vantage point. This was taken in 2000 (I think):

    The seine boat races were great this year, with the NINA crew taking the beach first. I love a close race and they were within a boat length of one another right up onto the sand!

    The Greasy Pole contest went only into one rotation. After the courtesy round was over with one runner having stood beside the flag and touched it, the next runner in the line after him reached the flag second time out. Some years it has gone five times around before this happens, the family secrets are being passed down though, and many were very close to the flag this year. Usually most plunge ignominiously into the water within a foot or two of the start.

    I stood right under the outward swing of the carnival ride to make the picture at the top of the page, and for a moment thought better of it. Then I let go and entwined my fate with all the riders, who would have shared my doom.

                                Buona Fiesta! Viva San Pietro!