July 6, 2002 – French Heritage Week starts Sunday morning at Hull Bay Hideaway and continues with an assortment of events throughout the week, culminating in dual Bastille Day celebrations July 14 at Hull Bay and in Frenchtown.
Games of horseshoes, darts and dominoes officially get things going at 10 a.m. Sunday at Hull Bay and will continue throughout the day, with the Sea Breeze band playing from 5 to 9 p.m. Food and drinks will be on sale. The event is sponsored by Sen. Lorraine Berry, the French Heritage Week Committee and the Northside Civic Organization, with proceeds to benefit the French Heritage Scholarship Fund. There is no admission charge.
Berry said the St. Thomas-St. John Board of Elections will hold voter registration from 2 to 4 p.m. Those planning to sign up to bring identification – either original U.S. birth certificate or
U.S. passport, or else both U.S. naturalization certificate and Social Security Card.
Other activities include:
Wednesday — The honorary French consul for the Virgin Islands, Odile de Lyrot, will host a Friends of French Culture reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Emerald Beach Resort. Admission is $5, with a cash bar.
Friday — two events:
A captains' meeting at 7 p.m. at Hull Bay Hideaway for the Bastille Day fishing tournament.
A pre-Bastille Day dance from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Bryan's Bar. Music is by Sea Breeze. Admission is $10 with a cash bar.
Saturday — A joint legislative and executive branch observance of French Heritage Week from 6 to 9 p.m. at Palms Court Harborview Hotel. The event is by invitation only.
Sunday — a busy day of activites at two venues:
Hull Bay — the Bastille Day Fishing Tournament from 5 a.m. to noon, sponsored by the Northside Fishing Club. Family fun day from 1 to 5 p.m. at the beach with games sponsored by the Northside Civic Organization and Community Health Van screening services available. Music from 5 to 8 p.m. by Lashing Dog and Obsession bands. Fishing tournament trophy awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Free admission.
Frenchtown — traditional Bastille Day festivities including music, food and drink, speeches and more, starting at 5 p.m. in the Joseph Aubain Ballpark parking lot. (See "Next up for celebration: France's national day".)
Berry said she will have to do some fancy footwork this year, with activities on Bastille Day itself, July 14, taking place both on the North Side and in Frenchtown. The fishing tournament and related Hull Bay activities usually take place on the weekend before the 14th, but this year the 14th is on the weekend. Berry is a scheduled speaker in Frenchtown and a presenter of the fishing trophy awards an hour later at Hull Bay.
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