Thousands flocked to the Christiansted Boardwalk Saturday evening for the renewal of one of St. Croix’s signature holiday events.
If the annual Boat Parade is cruising the harbor, can Christmas be far behind?
The event didn’t take place last year, for the reason everyone knows – the island was still reeling from the double whammy of two Cat 5 hurricanes. But life goes on and the healing is well underway. And Saturday night, the boats returned.
More than 20 boats were signed up for the event, with lights twinkling and flashing, doubling the glow with the reflections off the water. The music sounded gently across the water, the crowd laughed and cheering, ooohed and aaahed, as the smell food wafting across the green and down the boardwalk.
The boats were decked out with Santas, snowmen and more than a few Christmas trees.
And the grand finale was a great fireworks show. The main event lasted about 15 minutes and then, to the delight of the departing crowd, the pyrotechnic crew launched sporadic “curtain calls” for another half hour.