Greased pole climbing. Jun 13, 2024 · The Red Bull Championship Run tasks Philadelphians with climbing a greased pole. Contestants clamber up a greasy pole as the traditional Gostra Festival pole climbing competition takes place in St. (Santiago Ortiz/Billy Penn) Philadelphians have a thing about climbing greased poles. 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. 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. — In a decades-old tradition, kids and adults gathered around two different greased poles Sunday with one objective in mind: get to the top in the shortest amount of time. 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. 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. After a few “Crisco cops” slathered the slippery shortening on utility poles in a failed effort to keep joyous fans from climbing them, Philly sports fans have become so synonymous with grease poles that Crisco sent thank-you cookies to city police for boosting their brand. Don't miss the event on July 27. Julian's, Malta. More specifically, it is the name of several events that involve staying on, climbing up, walking over or otherwise traversing such a pole. 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. Whether it’s after a Super Bowl win, at the Italian Market Feb 1, 2018 · But none of those moments, arguably, was as bizarre as the grease pole. Jul 29, 2024 · A contestant attempting to scale the grease pole. . Jun 13, 2024 · Don't plan on climbing the slippery pole, plan to run up it with a goal in mind. Feb 7, 2025 · Forever tied to the greatest moment in Philadelphia sports history, pole climbing enshrined itself in the city’s culture and “grease the poles” became a rallying cry uttered whenever a Philly team nears a championship. "This time, it’s not about climbing a greased pole," Red Bull said. Each year, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival returns in mid-May for one full weekend. 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. Y. Report by Victoria Nwos 6 days ago · Jordan, N. The poles 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. 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.