The other day I was speaking to a neighbor about all of the great festivals in Buffalo and he asked me if I had ever attended the Grease Pole Festival. I told him that I had, which not only surprised him, but made him smile. “That’s one of my favorite events,” he exclaimed. “There’s something about it that’s so different from the rest of the festivals. I love to go and watch the grease pole competition. And the Hispanic food is out of the this world.”
The Grease Pole Festival is different. After all, when the culmination of the event is a bunch of guys attempting to scale a greased up telephone pole (timed), by climbing over each other and standing on the shoulders of their teammates, in order to get to the prizes at the top… well, there’s nothing else quite like it, as seen in this YouTube video by Yanira Maldonado:
The Grease Pole Festival is also the oldest ethnic festival in Erie County. Other elements of the free, three-day festival include latino music (salsa, reggaeton, merengue, and bachata), dancing, kids’ activities and a talent show.
45th Annual Grease Pole Festival (see Facebook)
July 18, 2014 – July 20, 2014
Agustine “Pucho” Olivencia Community Center | 261 Swan Street, Buffalo, NY 14204
Fri 5pm – 11pm, Sat & Sun 1pm – 11pm