The Caribbean Journal calls the Crucian Christmas Festival “the biggest, best Christmas party in the Caribbean” and we couldn’t agree more.
“Keeping Our Traditions & Culture Alive, Crucian Christmas Festival 2024-2025” is the winning theme for this year’s festival on St. Croix! Locals, residents and visitors alike wait patiently each year to revel in the festivities of Crucian Christmas Festival. Beauty pageants, 9 nights of the cultural village, parades, a food festival, j’ouvert, street tramps, live musical performances from local and international artists and much, much more are on hand to unfold from December 26th through January 4th.
Since 1952, the year the first Miss St. Croix Festival Queen was crowned, pageantry has been a central part of Crucian Christmas Festival. Festivities kick off with the ever-popular Prince & Princess/ Duke & Duchess/Junior Miss pageants at the festival village on December 26th. This year’s sole contestant for Miss St. Croix will also be crowned on stage on this night, making her one of 62 women to garner the title of Crucian Christmas Festival queen. The Calypso Monarch Competition and inaugural USVI Band Clash follow closely behind, taking place on December 27th and 28th respectively. The Band Clash will feature seven of St. Croix’s favorite bands competing for a $10,000 cash prize and bragging rights for the Best Band in the land.
The Festival Village is another part of Crucian Christmas Festival that can be recognized as the glue that keeps the festivities together. Held in downtown Frederiksted, this year’s village will officially open to the public on Friday, December 29th with Cultural Night where the richness of Crucian culture will be on full display. Expect live musical performances from Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, RVP Band, It Is What It Is Band and international soca artist from Trinidad & Tobago, Kes the Band. With a different theme each night, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Other village highlights include Coney Island Carnival rides and games plus numerous booths serving local foods and drinks like johnny cakes & patés, conch in butter sauce with seasoned rice, souse and potato salad, sorrel, coquito, passion fruit juice and more.
This year, 2025 kicks off with an early morning dance party whose name originates from the French words “jour” and “ouvert,” meaning daybreak or morning. On Wednesday, January 1st, revelers pour into the streets of downtown Frederiksted starting at 5am for j’ouvert. This spirited celebration continues into the late morning hours where people – both young and old – will dance for hours on end behind 8-feet tall music trucks as paint, water and powder cascade through the air. The next day, head to The Food, Arts and Crafts Fair on Thursday, January 2nd for a taste of authentic Crucian flavor. Here, the best Crucian chefs, cooks and artisans showcase their sharp culinary skills offering local dishes like kallaloo, red peas soup, fish & fungi, vienna cakes, tamarind stew and other delicious treats. Crucian Christmas Festival culminates with the Children and Adult Parades on January 3rd & 4th complete with bright, colorful costumes, lively music, mocko jumbie performances, quadrille dancers and unlimited vibes!
For more information about 2024- 2025 Crucian Christmas Festival, visit USVI Festivals Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USVIFestivals.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard