Community Events Archives - Chris and Christie Powers

Mango Melee 2025 Festivities

Jul 15, 2025 | Community Events

Mango Melee is one of our beloved food festivals on St Croix! It was amazing to see local vendors and some of our favorite non profits representing at this year’s event. The tropical fruit and mango festival took place on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the St. George Village Botanical Garden. According to the St. Croix Source, crowds packed into the St. George Village Botanical Garden Sunday for the annual Mango Melee — an event that has become the garden’s largest fundraiser and a community favorite and full day of activities, food, and entertainment. More than 100 local vendors offered a wide array of crafts and cuisine.

Environmental education was also part of the lineup, with the St. Croix Environmental Association sharing information on the role of bats in the local ecosystem. The Children’s Museum and Orchid Society also had booths, and the garden’s nursery featured a special selection of orchids for sale. We always look forward to the Botanical Garden’s nursery sales!

The St. Croix Animal Welfare Center offered puppy cuddles and adoption opportunities. Three adoptable puppies were at the booth, bringing smiles to visitors of all ages.

It would not be the Mango Melee without the famous mango eating contests! Crowd favorites, the children’s and adult mango eating contests had spectators cheering as contestants devoured fruit from large silver bowls. For the winners and more on the event, read the full St Croix Source article here.

Photos courtesy of St Croix Source, credit to Linda Morland

Winners of the 2025 Taste of St Croix

Apr 29, 2025 | Community Events

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:

Beverage
1st Place: VLP Enterprise
2nd Place: Local Harvest Cafe
3rd Place: Sugar Rush

Soup & Stew
1st Place: Chef Ozzie Kitchen
2nd Place: Wokame Island Sushi
3rd Place: Rita Chiverton

Vegetarian
1st Place: Vital Vibration
2nd Place: Vital Vibration

Local Fare
1st Place: Divi Carina Bay Resort
2nd Place: Savior’s Journey
3rd Place: Wokame Island Sushi

People’s Choice
1st Place: 1756 Grutto
2nd Place: Wokame Island Sushi
2nd Place: Vital

Appetizer
1st Place: Boots & Bones Restaurant
2nd Place: Through The Grapevine Rest
3rd Place: Jubilee by Laddie in Stx

Entree
1st Place: Boots & Bones Restaurant
2nd Place: Through The Grapevine Rest
3rd Place: Jubilee by Laddie in Stx

Dessert
1st Place: Sugar Rush
2nd Place: The Sweet Stuff
3rd Place: The Sweet Stuff

Presentation
1st Place: Sugar Rush
2nd Place (tie): Cibone; Sweet Stuff
3rd Place (tie): Cheff Ozzie Kitchen; Local Harvest Cafe

Read more about the event on VI Daily News and the VI Consortium.

St Croix Easter Camping

Apr 17, 2025 | Community Events

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.

Agrifest 2025

Feb 21, 2025 | Community Events

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 biggest, best Christmas party in the Caribbean

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. 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.

Written by Anquanette Gaspard

Crucian Christmas Festival 2024-2025 Lineup

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/

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