They each own two Greasy Pole titles. And they're seen as two of the top walkers on the Sunday pole.

But Sandy Pallazolo and Vinny Parisi may be most known for something else; their costumes.

Pallazolo, the 2002 Friday and 2003 Saturday champ, and Parisi, who is the 2005 Friday and 2006 Saturday champ, have taken costumes to the next level for the St. Peter's Fiesta Greasy Pole contests.

"There are only a few people that go all out with their costumes," said Parisi, who comes up with costume ideas a couple of weeks prior to Fiesta. "The effort is kind of weak. I don't think it's as fun if you don't dress up, and that's why you walk the greasy pole, to have fun."

The duo regularly get costume ideas from current events and with an abundance of celebrities in town this summer.

Parisi said he'll be dressing up as Happy Gilmore and Pallazolo will be his caddy, in part because Hollywood star Adam Sandler is in Essex filming "Grown Ups." Sandler was Happy Gilmore in the movie of the same name.

In the past, the two have dressed Michael Jackson and his umbrella-toting bodyguard. Last year, the two Greasy Pole champs played the role of television news reporters producing the over-the-top global coverage of Gloucester's teen pregnancies.

"We are looking to be something that's been in the news," Pallazolo said. "That's why we have the best costumes, because they are recognizable."

Pallazolo says the best costumes the two wore were in 2004. That year, Pallazolo dressed as St. Peter and had eight men carry him onto Pavilion Beach on a home-made throne.

Parisi, on the other hand, was dressed as Ambie Scola, whose name is well known during Fiesta for selling his popular sausages in St. Peter's Square.

"When you think of Fiesta, you think of St. Peter," Pallazolo said. "And everybody loves Ambie's sausages. Just look at how long the line is. You can't have Fiesta without them."

Parisi and Pallazolo's costumes have also inspired some of their fellow walkers, most notably the Friday Greasy Pole walkers, who kick off the weekend's competition today. Both Parisi and Pallazolo climbed the Greasy Pole ladder, having started in the Friday walk, and the two have left a legacy with the other walkers.

"Vinny and Sandy are the best when it comes to costumes," said Friday walker Adam Orlando. "Whenever I need help with something I ask one of them; they have pulled off a lot of good costumes and they are tough to beat."

This year, Orlando and 10 other Friday walkers will be dressed as former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestlers, with Orlando dressing up as a member of the Legion of Doom, a tag team known for its face paint and spiked shoulder pads.

"The Friday walkers get into it more than anyone," Parisi said. "They have a lot of spirit."

While the Sunday Greasy Pole features only former champions, the Friday pole contest features walkers with little experience. Where most of the Sunday walkers have a legitimate shot at winning, the Friday walkers are looking to have fun with it.

"We aren't champs like the guys on Sunday," Orlando said. "A lot of us might never win; we are there to have a good time. When we all dress up, it brings us together."

All in all, Parisi and Pallazolo say they're in the Greasy Pole walk to win — but, more importantly, they want to put on a show for the fans who line Pavilion Beach.

"When you are up on the pole you definitely want to win, but in the end it's about giving everybody a show," Pallazolo said. "If I win, nice — but I've already won twice.

"I like to put on a good costume and give everybody a good laugh," he said. "Win or lose, I get to come back and do it again next year."

Nick Curcuru can be reached at ncurcuru@gloucestertimes.com