Buffalo Rising Online

Jul 13th, 10:32am By Allie Friedman

Buffalonians always love a good party. Whether it be strolling the streets of Allentown's Art Festival or digesting their ways through the Taste of Buffalo, the opportunity to celebrate is never passed up by Buffalo residents. So, what better an occasion to eat, dance, and compete than the Augustine “Pucho” Olivencia Community Center's 39th Annual Grease Pole Festival on July 18th, 19th, and 20th.

Buffalo's oldest Puerto Rican Festival and rated one of Western New York's Top Ten Festivals by the Buffalo Evening News, the Grease Pole Festival is one you cannot miss. Taking place outside the Community Center on 261 Swan Street, thousands of people will gather to celebrate Puerto Rican culture, and if the large amount of people doesn't give the festivities away, the traditional music from as far as Texas and Puerto Rico will. Delicious Latin food will be served as friends from all over the world come to enjoy Buffalo's Hispanic diversity.

The Grease Pole Competition is the most exciting event of the festival. An island tradition, that has traveled all the way to Buffalo, New York, tests the endurance of its competitors with the task of climbing a forty foot greased pole. Starting in Puerto Rico as a monthly event, the festival travels between little towns. Teams of six men come together and attempt to reach the flag at the top of the pole.

A 'T' sits at the top of the pole to which prizes are connected. The object of the competition is to reach the top of the pole and successfully pull the prizes off the T in the quickest amount of time. Traditional prizes normally include empty cans and sausages. A cash prize is given to the winners of the contest and large crowds come to cheer on the competitors as the teams battle their own strength, stamina, and courage to achieve victory.

Buffalo's own competition will take place on Sunday, July 19th testing the guts of residents as climbers grease themselves down in true Puerto Rican fashion. The event starts by setting a goal for the amount of time teams can take to climb the pole. The first time is set around ten to fifteen seconds which is almost impossible to achieve. To make competition possible, time is increased in increments of five seconds. Usually, winning teams climb the pole in forty five seconds.

Up until roughly ten years ago, only men participated in this event. However, women have become eager contestants and often, victorious champions. A cash prize of $500 dollars is given to the winning team accompanied with custom t-shirts. However, the Community Center is looking to up the amount of money that can be won, creating more of an incentive to compete.

The festival usually attracts between 10-15,000 people. Even teams from Canada make the hike to compete in Buffalo’s own festivities. In the past, Canadian teams have brought gifts to exchange with Buffalo competitors, withholding the friendly values this festival was created upon.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Community Center and witnessing the arena where competition will take place. In fact, I even saw "the pole," thirty - five feet tall, scarred with 39 years of grease. Sand covers the area beneath the pole creating a soft landing for those climbers that fall victim to the slip of the grease. Come July 18th, the area will be filled with tents, electricity, and security to keep celebration safe and fun.

While visiting the center, I was fortunate enough to speak with Augustine "Chito" Olivencia, chairman of the festival. He showed me a variety of pictures from previous years displaying those brave ones covered in grease and hundreds of others cheering them on. Olivencia's father and founder of the Community Center, Augustine Pucho Olivencia, created this Center as a means of preserving Hispanic culture. Following in the footsteps of his father, Augustine "Chito" Olivencia works very hard to keep his father's success alive. Olivencia said, "The festival is safe and clean.

Everyone watches out for each other and all neighbors participate." The streets surrounding the center are closed off during the upcoming festivity and everyone takes part to make the event a success. Even Chefs, the neighboring Italian restaurant, opens up their parking lot to the public. Olivencia continued, "Everyone is welcome. There is no charge. My father never charged people to come, so we're not going to charge people to come. The Center is here for the community." Food and drinks will be available to be purchased.

The Community Center's Board of Directors has worked very hard to make this festival a success and in correlation with the board, volunteers assist July 18th through the 20th making sure everything runs smoothly. Olivencia said, "70 Volunteers come help spend 3 days making sure everyone has fun."

The Community Center's mission is not only to help the community, but also to preserve Hispanic Culture. This festival does exactly this. It brings together all types of people in common celebration. The Festival lasts three days and is the only festival in Buffalo to celebrate until midnight. It is held on the specific dates of July 18th to July 20th because these are the days that Puerto Rico gained independence. The dates have never been changed in honor of this historical event. Keeping to tradition with a start time of 5 P.M on July 18th, people will pack to the point where the floor will reach zero visibility.

If you're looking for great food, ultimate dance opportunities, and suspenseful competition, the Grease Pole Festival has it all. So, come down to 261 Swan Street, say goodbye to summer's ordinary back yard barbecues and celebrate with quality friends and a pile of grease.

39th Annual Grease Pole Festival
July 18th, 19th, and 20th
261 Swan Street

Image from www.mexicolore.co.uk/