This year Taste of St. Croix is celebrating its 25th anniversary! This even has been one of the Caribbean’s signature culinary events featuring superb food and drinks presented by the region’s favorite eateries.
The event took place this year on April 8th at the Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino. Taste of St Croix was once again a sold out event and hundreds of foodies delighted in sampling a variety of appetizers, entrees, desserts and vegetarian dishes served up by the island’s top eateries.
Congratulations to this year’s competition winners:
Here on St. Croix, Easter is time when we see residents camp on the beaches! It is so amazing to see! This often happens the week before and the week after Easter. St Croix residents know this tradition which goes back generations. Many set up little “townships” and can be a reunion gathering and an opportunity to have fun with family. We’ve seen simple tent setups to Crucian “glamping” with appliances and platforms.
A few days before Easter, we saw an article on VI Daily News’ covering this tradition! A few days before Easter and there were tents set up along the beaches. It said that hundreds of families will give up the comforts of home and head to many of the St Croix’s many beaches for Easter camping. The article continued, “For some families, Easter camping dates back to more than 50 years, and the tradition starts in earnest this weekend. Tents began dotting the shoreline as early as last week at Cramer Park, Southgate Beach, Butler Bay, Marley Beach, Salt River, Target Wall Beach, Cane Bay and other beaches around the island.” Read the full article here.
After Easter weekend, we read another great article about Easter Camping on WTJX. The interviews with families who treasure this annual trek reminds us of how importance family tradition is. Some out-of-town campers return to St Croix to celebrate with their family, friends, and classmates. Read the article here.
The 2025 Annual Agrifest from February 15-17, 2025 offered great food, music, plants, animals and fun! There are many activities for the entire family. As the V.I. Daily News reported, the fair also showcased Crucian culture, tradition and lively entertainment that engaged residents and visitors from all walks of life. The the Guardians of Culture mocko jumbies, led by instructor Zayd Saleem, entertained the crowd with their vibrant performances. Many took the opportunity to get their photos taken with the masked stilt walkers. The final day of entertainment featured an impressive lineup including Big Kyat Sounds, I-Land Boyz Pan Experience, La Vuerza VZ, Black Empire, Kurt Schindler and Unlimited Sounds featuring DJ Felix.
The fair also featured a replica of a historic Crucian home originally designed by former teacher Janice Pemberton-Tutein about 20 years ago. Deputy Commissioner for Agriculture Riise Richards, along with Marjorie Hampson and Joyce Schuster, spoke about the home’s significance in educating young generations on the island’s history. Read the full article from the V. I. Daily News here.
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. This makes 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 this Christmas party in the Caribbean!
The Festival Village is 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. The first night is 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.
The 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. They offer 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.
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
“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.
