St. Croix’s west end was awash in color, culture and music on Saturday. The 72nd Crucian Christmas Festival Adults’ Parade stormed through Frederiksted and reminded the rest of the U.S. Virgin Islands that Twin City knows how to fete.
One born-and-raised Crucian, Yoki Hanley, said she recently moved to Atlanta but came home for Festival — and wasn’t “missing it for the world.”
“It’s like to revitalize, you know — to recharge — especially for my culture,” she said. Hanley said she’d been missing local delicacies like seasoned rice and stuffing. Now, she said, she’s ready to take on 2025.
“That’s the whole point of Festival, especially Christmastime, you take everything — all your heartache, your pain, your problems, you deal with it best you can,” she said. “And then when time come at the end of the year for Festival, you let it loose.”
Hanley said it was her first time walking with the troupe Opulence Mas but her second in the Adults’ Parade. For those interested in making the walk next year, Hanley said it’s important to find a good troupe. Hydration is key.
“You have to have a balance of water and liquor in order to make it down this parade route,” she said.
After Crucian Christmas Festival royalty and the Ten Sleepless Knights — trailed by madras-clad quadrille dancers — made their way through town, Opulence Mas was one of two troupes to hit the town in force, followed by Simply Sophisticated.
On Friday, parade organizer Kendell Henry said Saturday’s Adults’ Parade had 25 entries. Two of those entries comprised hundreds of colorful, feathered troupers.
Saturday’s parade went well into the afternoon, and the 72nd Crucian Christmas Festival was slated to end with a Madras Mas night at Festival Village and fireworks.
