Virgin Islanders will have plenty of opportunities to be joyful this holiday season once the 72nd Crucian Christmas Festival kicks off on Boxing Day.
The festivities are scheduled to begin with the Prince and Princess, Duke and Duchess Jr. Miss and Tiny Tarts pageants starting at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the Festival Village. On Friday, Calypsonians will face off in the 2024-2025 Calypso Monarch Competition, with doors opening at 8 p.m. The tunes continue on Saturday with the USVI Band Clash from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
This year’s festival will honor longtime St. Croix Educational Complex band director Kevré “Maestro” Hendricks, and the Festival Village officially opens at 6 p.m. on Sunday with Cultural Night, featuring KES the Band, RVP, Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, What It Is, and DJ Poppy Pops and Willy Chin. The lineup for International and Latin Night, starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, includes Triple Kay, the Manny Manuel Orchestra, Los Maestros, Xpress Band and GOYO.
Crucians and visitors will have a day to recover before giving their tastebuds a workout at the Food Fair, which starts at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1. That celebration of the island’s rich culinary and cultural traditions should provide Virgin Islanders with plenty of fuel for the evening’s Soca Monarch Competition, beginning at 8 p.m.
The revelry picks up again early with J’ouvert, starting at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2. Anyone still on their feet by the evening can head to the Festival Village at 6 p.m. for Flag-O-Rama night featuring Sisa, Problem Child, Karnage, Temisha, Th3rd, Black Empire, Exodus HD, Blind Earz, and DJ Avalanche and Lips Int’l.
The Children’s Parade kicks off at 12 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, followed by Reggae Night in honor of Vaughn Benjamin beginning at 6 p.m. at the Festival Village. The lineup includes Sizzla Kalonji, Konshens, Luciano, Reemah, Jahman, Freeze International and Big Kyat Sounds.
The Adults Parade starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, and will be followed by Madras Mas Night at the Village, featuring Machel Montano, Pumpa, Vio International, Rudy Live and QC Deh Ban, Trilla G, and International Steven and DJ Karl.
The whole thing is slated to end with a literal bang, with fireworks beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4.
This story will be updated as event and parade locations and routes become available.
All events:
Thursday, Dec. 26, starting at 4 p.m. – St. Croix Festival Prince and Princess Show
Friday, Dec. 27, starting at 8 p.m. – Calypso Monarch
Saturday, Dec. 28, 7 p.m.-1 a.m. – USVI Band Clash
Sunday, Dec. 29, 6 p.m.-1 a.m. – Village opens
Monday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m.-1 a.m. – International and Latin Night
Wednesday, Jan. 1, starting at 11 a.m. – Food Fair
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. – Soca Monarch
Thursday, Jan. 2, starting at 6 a.m. – J’ouvert
Thursday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.-1 a.m. – Flag-O-Rama Night
Friday, Jan. 3, starting at 12 p.m. – Children’s Parade
Friday, Jan. 3, 7 p.m.-1 a.m. – Reggae Night in honor of Vaughn Benjamin
Saturday, Jan. 4, starting at 11 a.m. – Adults Parade
Saturday, Jan. 4, starting at 7 p.m. – Madras Mas Night
Saturday, Jan. 4, starting at 9 p.m. – Fireworks
