Sunday marked the last day of the Italian Feast in Springfield. And it’s no Italian celebration without the grease pole competition! The grease pole competition is a centuries-old Italian tradition. And people got to experience it firsthand at the Italian feast of ‘our lady of Mount Carmel.’

Teams of brave individuals were cheered on as they attempted to climb up a 30 feet high and 22 inch greased pole in hopes of winning prizes at the Italian feast of ‘our lady of Mount Carmel’ in Springfield. “I’m just so proud to be Italian. This is so wonderful. You know, for all of us. It’s been so long in 20 years since it’s happened,” expressed Patrycia Skala of Springfield.