Dec 19, 2024 | Community Events
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
Dec 18, 2024 | Community Events
We are excited for the Crucian Christmas Festival and promises to showcase the rich culture of St. Croix, with performances from local and regional artists! According to the VI Consortium, the V.I. Department of Tourism and the Division of Festivals have announced updates to the 2024-2025 Crucian Christmas Festival schedule and Village performance line-up.
- Thursday, December 26, 2024 – St. Croix Festival – Prince & Princess Show
- Friday, December 27, 2024 – Calypso Monarch Competition
- Saturday, December 28, 2024 – Band Clash
- Sunday, December 29, 2024 – Cultural Night
- Performers: DJ Poppy Pops & Willy Chin, RVP, Stanley TSK, What It Is Band, KES
- Monday, December 30, 2024 – International Night
- Performers: Unlimited Sound, Triple Kay, Xpress Band, Kruziano, Los Maestros, Manny Manuel Orchestra
- Tuesday, December 31, 2024 – DJ Night
- Wednesday, January 1, 2025 – Soca Monarch
- Thursday, January 2, 2025 – Flag-O-Rama Night
- Performers: DJ Avalanche, Lips International, Exodus HD, Blind Earz, Bugz, Sisa, Problem Child, Karnage Temisha, Th3rd, Black Empire
- Friday, January 3, 2025 – Reggae Night
- Performers: Big Kat, Freeze Int’l, VI Collab (Jahman & Reemah), Luciano, Sizzla Kalonji, Aidonia
- Saturday, January 4, 2025 – Madras Mas Night
- Performers: DJ Karl, International Steven, Rudy Live & QC Deh Band, Trilla G, VIO Int’l, Pumpa, Machel Montano
Read the announcement on VI Consortium here or https://www.visitusvi.com/events/crucian-christmas-festival/
Dec 17, 2023 | Community Events
“Diversity, Artistry, and Culture Galore” is the energizing theme for the 2023-2024 Crucian Christmas Festival on St. Croix! A plethora of events await locals, residents, and visitors alike. Featured events include beauty pageants, twelve 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.
Festival events will begin on December 26th with the highly anticipated Prince and Princess, Duke and Duchess, and Junior Miss pageants. The Calypso Monarch Competition and Miss St. Croix Pageant follow closely behind, taking place on December 27th and 28th, respectively. Since 1952, when the first Miss St. Croix Festival Queen was crowned, pageantry has been a fundamental part of Crucian Christmas Festival. More than sixty women have held this coveted title, with a new festival queen to be crowned in 2023.
The cultural village is another part of Crucian Christmas Festival that has been around since the beginning. Held in downtown Frederiksted, the Festival Village will open on Friday, December 29th with International Cultural Night powered by Cruzan Rum. The indelible Crucian culture will be on full display, with live musical performances from Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, Xpress Band, Cool Session, and Spectrum Band. Each night dons a different theme to ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy. Other highlights of the village include Coney Island Carnival rides and games, plus numerous booths serving local foods and drinks like johnny cakes, patés, conch in butter sauce, seasoned rice, souse and potato salad, coquito, passion fruit juice, and more.
Looking for a taste of even more Crucian flavor? The Food, Arts, and Crafts Fair takes place on Wednesday, January 3rd, with the best Crucian chefs, cooks, and artisans flaunting their finest culinary skills and offering local delicacies like kallaloo, red peas soup, fish and fungi, Vienna cakes, tamarind stew, and other delicious treats. The next day, revelers emerge from their homes before the break of dawn for j’ouvert — an early morning dance party whose name originates from the French words “jour” and “ouvert,” meaning daybreak or morning. From 5am into the late morning hours, the streets of Frederiksted will be peppered with people — both young and old — dancing behind 8-foot-tall music trucks surrounded by paint, water, and powder. Crucian Christmas Festival culminates with the Children and Adult Parades on January 5th and 6th with bright, colorful costumes, lively music, mocko jumbie performances, quadrille dancers, and limitless vibes!
For more information about 2023- 2024 Crucian Christmas Festival, visit USVI Festivals Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USVIFestivals.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com
Nov 20, 2023 | Community Events, Island News
The unofficial start of the holiday season on St. Croix begins with Christiansted Holiday Jump Up. To “jump up” means to dance with jubilation, and guests should expect to fully commit to doing this and much more at this popular event! A festival-like block party, Christiansted Holiday Jump Up is when the streets of downtown Christiansted are blocked off to vehicular traffic to allow everyone to “jump up” and enjoy an evening of excitement and togetherness at this unique and cultural experience. Christiansted Holiday Jump Up is hosted by Christiansted Retail & Restaurant Association (CRRA), a community organization comprised of downtown area businesses that focuses its efforts on the needs of the Christiansted community. Held four times a year on a Friday night, the last Jump Up of the year typically takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Locals, residents, and visitors flood the streets to enjoy live street performances from some of the island’s most cherished groups. Moko Jumbies, the infamous cultural icon of the U.S. Virgin Islands, make their esteemed appearance with Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies. A staple in our Virgin Islands culture for centuries, it is said that they ward off evil spirits and protect those around them from any oncoming danger. This is why it is considered a blessing to be in their presence. Enjoy live music at every turn with the sweet sounds of pan and iron steel pan groups, smooth jazz sounds, and melodic tunes from musical groups that cover genres ranging from R&B, calypso, soca, and pop. Street vendors set up their tables throughout downtown Christiansted serving local foods and drinks and selling jewelry, arts and crafts, and much more. Christiansted Holiday Jump Up is the perfect time to get a jump start on holiday shopping! As a bonus, Christiansted businesses and restaurants will extend their hours to 9pm to accommodate the crowds and offer several specials in celebration of the event.
The event takes place four times a year. Upcoming dates are November 24, 2023, and Feb. 14, May 5 and July 7, 2024. The biggest Jump Up is held in February on Valentine’s Day.
Come out and enjoy a night on the town with good food, family, and friends!
Written by Anquanette Gaspard agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com
Jul 20, 2023 | Community Events
The 27th annual Mango Melee Tropical Fruit and Mango Festival was held in at the St. George Village Botanical Garden in St Croix on July 9, 2023. This popular family-friendly event offers kids activities, educational workshops, food competitions, tropical fruit demonstrations and tastings, and the ever-popular Mango Eating Contests. Visitors enjoy local food and drinks, arts and craft vendors, cultural dance performances, Moko Jumbies, music and more throughout the day. As the VI Consortium reported, Yasmine Tuitt, 14, defended her title and emerged as the winner of the Mango Eating Competition for the second consecutive year at the 27th annual Mango Melee. 9-year-old Anita Thomas won the Mango Eating Competition in the children category. Congratulations!
Many local vendors also had tables selling mango and tropical fruit delicacies and products. It is a great annual event that brings the community together!
The St. Croix Source has some great photos, check it out here.
Jul 20, 2023 | Community Events
July 3rd of this year is the 175th celebration of USVI’s Emancipation Day, history. It was a week long commemoration to honor the heritage of the Virgin Islands and celebrate the hard-won freedom of its people. Events included a parade, concerts, a freedom walk, panel discussions and more. We are excited to see a nationally published publication like Essence.com write wonderful article about the commemoration events.
St. Croix Source also has an article about the events starting with July 3, 2023 in the Fort to Fort Freedom walk, a Libation and Calling the Names of the Ancestors Ceremony, and with music and fireworks after dark. In between, there were music, art shows, Quadrille dancing and a Quelbe tramp, just to name a few highlights.
