Tag: Carnival

The Crucian Christmas Festival has taken to the internet this season, but the U.S. Virgin Islands' Division of Festivals has not yet determined how it will handle next spring's St. Thomas Carnival.

The West Indian Company Ltd. cannot sit idly by while cruise lines resolve how to resume sailing amid a raging pandemic and federal restrictions that have sidelined the industry since March, WICO board members said on Wednesday.

Organizers of St. John's July 4th Festival presented, "Jou'Virtual," moving J'ouvert online to share the fun in a virtual way. “We wanted to offer a sense of normalcy during an extraordinary time," said Ian Turnbull, director of the V.I. Division of Festivals.

Revelers are unable to jump up and play mas during the 68th edition of Carnival Virgin Islands on St. Thomas, but the U.S. Virgin Islands is generating “exceptional” media coverage with its virtual Carnival series.

Carnival on St. Thomas may have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Virgin Islanders can still have fun while maintaining social distancing. The Department of Tourism’s Division of Festivals launched “Home Wuk,” a series of online social gatherings designed to create a sense of community, camaraderie and a “virtual” Carnival experience.

Tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the Virgin Islands are practically up in smoke as the COVID-19 pandemic forced cruise ship cancellations, a ban on hotel stays and a stay-at-home order that all but cut off the territory’s lifeblood: tourism.

Saturday night’s kickoff in Market Square ushered in the Carnival season on St. Thomas and gave residents a taste of what organizers promise will be a more fun and streamlined festival, with more events and the resurgence of old traditions.

Preps for the 68th St. Thomas Carnival celebration are ongoing and promise a colorful range of cuisine, music, and people. Under the new management of the V.I. Department of Tourism's Division of Festivals, this year’s themed event All Eyes on We for 2020 runs from April 4 to May 3, with new festivities added to the calendar.

It is officially the beginning of festival season on St. Croix and Alvin Burke Jr.’s sixth annual "Carnival Meets the Runway" kicked it off with a bang Saturday. The night brought together Crucian Christmas Festival parade troupes and included a variety of entertainment.

Senators on Thursday pressed officials of the V.I. Tourism Department about the new Division of Festivals and how to increase flights into the territory at a meeting of the Economic Development, Regulations and Agriculture Committee.