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It's Carnival Time

By Joanne Curcio-Quiñones

Either you find yourself caught up in a kaleidoscope of color, sound and motion, or you succumb to the contagious calypso rhythms. But rest assured: There's no escaping the party spirit of carnival in the USVI. Each island hosts its own celebration at a different time of the year. St. Thomas gets its party started in April, St. John comes to life just before the Fourth of July and St. Croix celebrates in December when 'tis the season to be jolly. But what they all have in common is that the nearly month-long cultural festival always brings together locals and visitors for a vibrant fête that's chock-full of colorful costumes, hip-spiraling revelers and pomp and pageantry.

St. Thomas Carnival

The vivid explosion of sights and sounds that marks Carnival time in St. Thomas signals a nonstop affair loaded up with food, entertainment and fun for folks of all ages. There's no mistaking the fact that the music is the centerpiece of the treasured annual tradition. Many of the family-friendly events revolve around and showcase traditional West Indian musical styles, including calypso, quelbe and steel pan music.

Some of the musical highlights include the Junior and Adult Calypso Monarch competitions, which tend to be among the most anticipated Carnival events, given that the competition is fierce. For months before the big event, talented contenders compete in elimination rounds for the privilege to square off for the coveted titles and entertain the masses at the Lionel Roberts Stadium. Other musical extravaganzas include the Calypso Revue, in which enthusiastic crowds bump and grind to the crème de la crème of the calypso crop. The Steel Pan Jamboree is a popular family event that puts the spotlight on the island's talented youth, with each school showing off its own steel band's talents in a colorful celebration.

The Cultural Fair is an all-day activity with not only back-to-back live musical performances, but also lots of arts, crafts, food and frolic. But for many carnival goers, the main attraction is the J'ouverts, which are wee-hour parades that are affectionately called "Tramps" by the locals. The Mardi Gras-like procession of live bands followed by thousands of gyrating hips gets rolling around 4 a.m. and winds itself around town until everyone breaks for breakfast.

Get a complete 2008 St. Thomas Carnival schedule of events, here.

You can reach the Virgin Islands Carnival Committee for more information:
Virgin lslands Carnival Committee. Inc.
Office (340) 776-3112 Fax (340) 777-9199
Carnival Hotline: 340-690-5552
www.vicarnival.com

St. Croix's Crucian Festival

Crucians deck the halls during Christmastime with colorful costumes, playful parades and nonstop entertainment as their annual carnival celebration coincides with the festive holiday season — beginning about a week before Christmas and winding down on Three Kings' Day in January. The heart of the party is located in the Festival Village, where row after row of brightly decorated snack shacks cook up lots of local favorite foods, and one band after another brings the crowds to their feet with lively rhythms and exciting performances.

Like St. Thomas, the big island hosts several parades, including one for the children and another for the adults. The stars that usually steal the show are the Mocko Jumbies, which are traditional costumed performers who dance on stilts and depict carnival spirits. The masked stilt dancers are icons of Virgin Islands culture and originated in Africa, where it was believed that these tall spirits protected villages. Today they are simply fun and colorful performers who delight the crowds.

St. John Festival

The Carnival celebration on St. John is in part a tribute to the emancipation of slaves in 1848, but it coincidentally takes place around the same time the United States celebrates its independence. The 30-day festival kicks off in June and ends with a bang on the Fourth of July, complete with fireworks and a grand finale party. The traditional festivities began more than a century ago, when slaves were treated to the rare opportunity to join in a celebration. But it wasn't until the 1920s that the festival became organized and the party really got started.

As part of its modern-day celebration, the island hosts a Cultural Day that presents a wonderful opportunity to indulge in some tasty local tidbits and enjoy a festive atmosphere full of music, dance and lively spirits. Like its sister islands, St. John puts together a Festival Village where musical performances, games and lots of lively action come to life nearly every day. Bicycle and boat races are also part of the traditional celebration, as are colorful parade processions that lead dancing revelers through the streets.