Art Thursdays on St. Croix is one of the island’s most vibrant traditions! It brings Christiansted’s streets to life with creativity, music, and community energy every third Thursday from November to May. The historic downtown area transforms into an open‑air gallery where visitors and locals stroll between studios, boutiques, and courtyards filled with art.
For us, what makes Art Thursday so special is the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere! The event provides a meeting place where friends and family can gather for an enjoyable time. You will find a flourishing local art scene, live music through cobblestone walkways, and friendly conversations among new and old friends. It’s the unmistakable Caribbean charm that St Croix is known for.
Art Showcase
Local artisans showcase everything from handcrafted jewelry and pottery to vibrant paintings, woodwork, textiles, and more. Visiting artists are on-site showing genuine hospitality and openness to share the stories behind their work.
We visited Barbara’s Gallery, a participating art gallery, in one of our previous Art Thursday strolls. We enjoyed the colorful art on display and wonderful conversations.
Crucian Gold is also one of participating businesses at Art Thursday. Their knotted metal jewelry is exquisite, Christie’s charm bracelet comes from them, and it’s a linked infinity sign.
Another participating business is Sonya’s, the creator of the hook bracelets. We each bought hook bracelets at Sonya’s a long time ago and they are still beautiful. The story behind the Crucian Hook Bracelet is one that symbolizes true love. It is said that if the bracelet is worn with the hook opening pointing towards your heart, it means that your heart is taken. If the hook opening is worn away from your heart, it symbolizes that your heart is open and available to find true love. The bracelet is unique to St. Croix. Anyone who wears it has been here.
Experience Crucian culture at Art Thursdays!
Sometimes we grab a bite with friends in one of the many wonderful restaurants downtown after an evening exploring Art Thursday together. It’s simply a fun night out in the community! Here’s a photo taken after one of our Art Thursday walks. Dinner by the pier with good company, scrumptious food, and lovely sea views.
Visit the Facebook page for Art Thursdays here for more details and updates.
St Croix, US Virgin Islands offers so much more than the beautiful beaches and snorkeling that we are often known for. Included below are 5 places we really enjoy on St Croix and highly recommend our friends and family to explore when they are here. We still find wonderful little surprises every time we frequent these places around town! You will be immersed with the relaxed island vibe after visiting one of these hotspots.
1. Walking Downtown Christiansted
A blend of history, culture, and waterfront beauty, downtown Christiansted is a wonderful area to explore for tourists and locals! Find charming stores, art galleries and restaurants as you spend a few hours soaking in all that this historic and walkable area has to offer. Don’t miss Art Thursday, an event in Christiansted on the third Thursday evenings of every month from November through May when the vibrant art community come together in downtown. Learn more about it here.
2. Point Udall
Drive to Point Udall, the easternmost point of the United States and enjoy panoramic sea views and interesting foliage and vegetation.
View during drive to Point Udall
3. Jack & Issac Bay Preserve
The Jack & Isaac Bay Preserve is a pristine haven of marine and coastal beauty. It is home to hundreds of species, including endangered sea turtles in need of safe shores to nest. Established by The Nature Conservatory in 1999, the preserve is made of over 300 acres of rolling hills skirted with white sandy beaches and surrounded by crystal waters and vibrant coral reefs.
Jack & Issac Bay Preserve sign
4. Southgate Coastal Reserve
The Southgate Coastal Reserve is located a little over 3 miles east of Christiansted, just north of East End Road. It totals 100 acres and encompasses a coastal salt pond, mangrove forest, beach forest and upland grassland. Look for hand-painted signs along the way.
Hand-made sign
5. Jump Up!
Jump Up! is one of our favorite outdoor events to visit. Come to Christiansted for fun, food, music, shopping, and MOKO JUMBIE DANCERS! These mini carnivals are held four times a year. The streets are closed to vehicles and filled with music, people socializing and dancing, and vendors selling food and wares. The biggest Jump Up is held in February! Click here to the see the upcoming dates.
Photo of a Moko Jumbi performance from February 2023
According to Travel + Leisure, St. Croix, with it’s its convenient access from the United States mainland, pristine white-sand beaches to a buzz-worthy culinary scene, seems to fly under the radar. They created “tried-and-true” suggestions after speaking to locals and the St Croix Tourism board.
Key points as listed from the article:
Snorkelers and scuba divers can explore the underwater worlds of dive sites like Buck Island Reef, which has a submerged “trail,” and Butler Bay, which boasts several shipwrecks.
Going for tastings at rum distilleries like Captain Morgan and dining at popular local eateries like La Reine Chicken Shack are great ways to sample the island’s food scene.
We are excited to see the VIPA Board has approved millions in airport upgrades and coastal protection work In St Croix Source’s recent article (read it here),
The article reports that on St. Croix, the VIPA board approved work for airfield maintenance, removing rubber buildup and refreshing runway markings at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, to ensure continued safe operations. For St. Thomas, the board authorized funding for the final design of a new Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) station at Cyril E. King Airport. This approval allows the project to move forward to detailed design and engineering so construction can proceed. In addition, the board approved a contract for professional services to complete an environmental assessment and prepare a design-build package for shoreline stabilization at Cyril E. King Airport.
What caught our eye was the reporting from Preston Beyer, director of engineering, in regards to significant capital commitments for the region! St. Thomas–St. John District has obligated under active construction projects is $96,473,727.97 and the total cost the Engineering Department in the St. Croix District has obligated under active construction projects is $44,595,111.01.
VIPA also shared that tourism infrastructure remains a key focus and mentioned an introductory meeting with Seaborne Airlines as the “beginning of a collaborative relationship to support air service operations and strengthen connectivity for the Virgin Islands.” Seaborne Airlines was bought over this year and the new owners has been rebuilding its fleet and its reputation, starting with a new Twin Otter aircraft and plans to add more, what company President and CEO Darrell Richardson called “a resurrection” of the Virgin Islands’ only seaplane carrier. To read the article about Seabourne’s ‘resurrection’ under new owner and prioritizing expanded services, check out the US Daily News article here.
As we reach the reach the half year mark, the U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism Department is reporting strong performance across key sectors — including airlift, cruise arrivals, accommodations, cultural events, and global visibility — as the territory continues to establish itself as one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic destinations according to the St. Croix Source.
2024 was a record-breaking year in tourism for the USVI and we are excited! 2025 is showing strong mid-year results with increases in air travelers, cruise passenger arrivals and more. For example, the Source reported that air service to the territory continues to expand, with daily nonstop flights now operating between Dallas and St. Thomas. St. Croix will receive new nonstop flights from Chicago later this year. The new American Airlines service from Chicago O’Hare International Airport is scheduled to begin December 6 and will operate on Saturdays, bringing travelers from the midwest to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) on St. Croix.
Read more on St Croix Source here and on Travel Pulse here.
