Greased pole climbing. Don't miss the event on July 27. May 16, 2024 · Frankie Longo, showing off past prowess at the annual grease pole climbing competition on South 9th Street When’s the best time to watch? Oct 28, 2022 · Philly’s history with greased-pole climbing dates back to the start of the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival in the 1960s. Organizers require would-be contestants (adults only!) to sign a liability waiver and prove their sobriety with a Breathalyzer test, Gambino said. These traditional events are essentially the same - there is a long pole covered in grease, lard, or some other lubricant, and participants attempt to climb or walk along the pole to get to the other end, where there may be a prize or flag to recover. Each year, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival returns in mid-May for one full weekend. Surprisingly the sporting event of climbing a greased-up slippery pole is quite common around the world. 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. More specifically, it is the name of several events that involve staying on, climbing up, walking over or otherwise traversing such a pole. (Santiago Ortiz/Billy Penn) Philadelphians have a thing about climbing greased poles. "This time, it’s not about climbing a greased pole," Red Bull said. Whether it’s after a Super Bowl win, at the Italian Market Feb 9, 2025 · One of Philadelphia's most well-known sports traditions is the greasing of the poles whenever the Eagles have a chance to win a major game. Perhaps even more important to the winning team are the bragging rights… until next year. Feb 10, 2023 · Greased-pole climbing has a decades-old legacy rooted in the city’s Italian immigrants, best witnessed at the annual grease pole climb in South Philly. . May 21, 2021 · The prize for climbing the 30-foot-long (9 m) pole was originally a hat, but from 1852 became a side of mutton, which if there are no winners is cut up and distributed to the poor. Greasy pole, grease pole, or greased pole refers to a tall pole that has been made slippery with grease or other lubricants and thus difficult to grip. Jul 29, 2024 · A contestant attempting to scale the grease pole. 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. Jun 13, 2024 · Greased Pole Climbing Event Coming To Philly In July - Philadelphia, PA - The Red Bull Championship Run tasks Philadelphians with climbing a greased pole. The pole is 30 feet high, greased with lard, and you will find it at the 9th & Montrose Piazza! Feb 7, 2025 · While dangerous and illegal, the Philadelphia sports tradition of climbing greased street poles continues ahead of the Eagles' appearance in Super Bowl LIX. In 2004, the greasy pole was discontinued as an event at Egremont Crab Fair, due to high insurance cover costs should a participant fall from the pole. Jun 13, 2024 · Don't plan on climbing the slippery pole, plan to run up it with a goal in mind. A long-standing tradition of the festival challenges groups to work together to climb a lard-covered pole to reach meats and cheeses at the top, said festival producer Michele Gambino. Feb 1, 2018 · Philly folks eager to shimmy up a slippery pole coated in pungent pig lard can do so with the full approval of police at the festival’s third annual Grease Pole Climbing Competition. tzwgzq milnc typ fdg tsxo dayio rmkoo fvjy mdt bsw