Italian market grease pole WHYY Apr 9, 2025 · What happened: Philly's Italian Market Instagram page recently posted that the pole-climbing competition at this year's festival was ditching the grease for tomato sauce. "🍝 Hope you're ready for the first-ever Gravy Pole Climb at the Italian Market Festival! 😂🍅" the organizers wrote in the post, which was accompanied by a convincing May 12, 2025 · The festival celebrates the market, which is more than 150 years old, and the South Philly community that helped put it on the map. The Grease Pole, or Albero Della Cuccagna in Italian, is an old tradition in which teams compete in climbing to the top of a greased pole to reach prizes of meats, cheeses, gifts, and money. The May 16, 2025 · The 2025 South 9th Street Italian Market Festival returns this weekend with lots of vendors and tons of family fun, but mostly lots of tasty food and one greased pole ready for climbing. May 6, 2025 · The festival is also home to the greased-pole-climbing competition (you read that right), where teams of festivalgoers attempt to climb a super slippery, 30-foot-tall pole to retrieve prizes like meats, cheeses and other goodies. Each year, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival returns in mid-May for one full weekend. May 21, 2018 · In fact, the grease pole returned to the Italian Market in 2016 after a near 20-year hiatus due to liability concerns. May 22, 2017 · WATCH: Italian Market Grease Pole Competition. (Katherine Kuo) While Philly police still want fans to stay on the ground this weekend, Michele Gambino has a different suggestion: Go ahead and climb away — but just wait until May. In which dozens of people attempt to climb a 30-foot, lard-greased, sausage-topped pole. “It’s a tremendous attraction for the community there,” said Saverio Nestico, president of Italian-American nonprofit Filitalia International. to 5 p. The lifelong South Philly resident has his own table at the festival’s new VIP section this year; his 19-year-old son, Frankie Jr. But the main goal for those who attempt the climb are bragging rights. First of all, all pole climbers have to register through the Italian Market Festival's website , fill out a liability form, and pass a breathalyzer test at the Visitor Center located at May 23, 2022 · Climbers struggle as their teammates climb on their shoulders during the greased pole competition at the 2022 Italian Market Festival. Perhaps even more important to the winning team are the bragging rights… until next year. This is a double elimination tournament. May 16, 2024 · The 2024 South 9th Street Italian Market Festival returns this weekend with lots of vendors and tons of family fun, but mostly lots of tasty food and one greased pole ready for climbing. , is following in his father’s greasy footsteps; and current pole climbing champs such as Nick Cordisio credit Longo with getting them into this unique team-building activity. In this event, participants form human pyramids as they climb up a lard-covered pole in their attempt to reach cheeses and meats at the top. m. Greased Pole Climbing Competition: A fan favorite, the albero della cuccagna challenges teams to climb a 30-foot lard-slicked pole for a chance to win cash, meats, and cheeses. May 16, 2024 · Needless to say, Longo is a bit of a legend around the Italian Market. Philly's May 18, 2025 · A vegan tops the greased pole-climbing competition, and more scenes from the Italian Market Festival 2025 The greased pole-climbing competition is the festival’s most popular event as hundreds cheer on teams of intrepid climbers. on Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, along Ninth Street between Wharton and Fitzwater Streets. (Kat Kuo/South 9th Street Italian Market Festival) But some of this year's spoils Feb 7, 2025 · Teams climb atop one another in the hopes of reaching a greased pole’s peak, which is strung with meats, cheeses and gifts for whoever can reach them. May 14, 2025 · Each year, Philly's South Ninth Street Italian Market Festival features more than 100 vendors lining the streets and includes several can't-miss events, including the greased-pole climbing competition. Teams can register on site day of the event. By Claire Sasko May 16, 2018 · Climbing the greased pole at the Italian Market requires a much different tactics from the kind of pole climbing Philadelphians were doing earlier this year. This year’s block party runs from 10 a. (Erin Blewett for Billy Penn) Hundreds of people came Nov 5, 2022 · Frankie Longo, a former champion and legend of the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival’s annual grease pole climbing competition, sees novices overestimating their core strength. . The greased pole-climbing competition is the festival’s most popular event as hundreds cheer on teams of intrepid climbers trying to reach the salami and cheese at the All skill levels and ages are welcome. The contest takes Jun 14, 2024 · Festival-goers at Philadelphia's 2024 Italian Market festival climb a greased pole in an attempt to snag prizes. Cheering on the climbers. May 16, 2024 · This weekend, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival returns to pack seven blocks of South Philly with live music, Italian cuisine and culture, and the grease pole climb competition. Feb 1, 2018 · Competitors in the greased pole challenge at the Italian Market Festival in 2017 reach the prizes at the top. At the top of a 30-foot pole, greased with lard, hang prizes including pieces of cured meats, balls of mozzarella, and envelopes of money. The Grease Pole 30 feet high, greased with lard, located at the 9th & Montrose Piazza, teams will compete both Festival Days for prizes of meats, cheeses, gift cards and money, hanging from the top of the pole. algc topos lvhop jgmknx iac oslj mvqakk qrqj nebsz auehc