Miracle on Main Street, an idea dreamed up by a bunch of enterprising retailers and businessmen almost 16 years ago, was taken to heart by the community, and is now one of the island’s treasured holiday traditions.
The 17th annual downtown Charlotte Amalie celebration, presented by the Destination Downtown Committee of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, kicks off Friday with the opening of the Arts and Crafts Fair at Emancipation Garden, and continues into the night.
There are more than 50 vendors participating in the Christmas Fair, sponsored by the Committee to Revive Our Culture. The park is already aglow with Christmas lights surrounding the lignum vitae trees, decorated with ornaments made by schoolchildren.
The park always fairly buzzes with life, mounds of local food – tarts, breads, fish, candies, breads, and pates of every nature – tents set up with jewelry, hot sauces, wooden arts, cool local drinks, maubi, juices. And benches to relax on and enjoy the bounty.
"The streets of downtown and Emancipation Park will be filled with the sweet sounds of holiday music beginning at 10 a.m. Bands, choirs and dance groups will be performing throughout downtown Charlotte Amalie,” said Joe Aubain, chamber executive director.
And there will be boats. The Parade of Lighted Boats will set sail from Crown Bay Marina to Charlotte Amalie beginning at 6:30 PM. The parade is coordinated and produced by the Virgin Islands Charter Yacht League. Crown Bay Marina is offering offered free dockage to all participating boats, Aubain said. "So far, we have nine boats participating."
The boat parade is always exciting, with the vessels dressed in their holiday best, lighting up the harbor, with the gangs aboard singing and generally bursting with holiday spirits.
This year the committee will once again sponsor a holiday mini-parade that will begin at the Rothschild Francis Square and head east to Emancipation Park. It was an idea tried out last year, and Aubain said folks applauded the idea.
Downtown stores will be offering "miraculous" discounts and restaurants will be open late.
The entertainment scheduled for Emancipation Park includes:
- Eudora Kean Jazz and Steel bands 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Top Notch Band 1 – 4 p.m. choir
- Cool Sessions 6-10 p.m.
- Traditional Arts, crafts & food from 10 a.m. -10 p.m.
Main Street
- Ulla Muller Steel Orchestra– Post Office Square 5:30– 8:30 p.m.
- St. Thomas All Stars – Head of Main/Cardow – 5:30– 8:30 p.m.
- Joseph Sibilly School Orchestra – Nye Gade 5:30-8 p.m.
- Milo’s Kings – Raadets Gade next to Captain’s Corner 5:30 -8:30 p.m.
- Caribbean Ritual Dancers – Area in front of Coconuts-Main Street-5:30-8:30 p.m.
- BCB Burning Blazers – Area in front of Palm Passage–Main Street 5:30-8:30 p.m.
- Lockhart Quadrille – Roa.m.ing
- Encore Band – Store T’avaer Gade 5:30-8:30 p.m.
- DJ Aluda – Adjacent to Salvation Army – 6 -8:30 p.m.
Waterfront
- Antilles School Steel Band – Palm Passage Parking Lot – 5 -7 p.m.
- Awe We Band – Palm Passage Parking Lot – 6 – 10 p.m.
- Kirwin Terrace West Stars Tennant Council Steel Orchestra – 5 -7:30 p.m.
- Sweeta Band – In front of the Rolex Store – 7 – 10 p.m.
Holiday Mini-Parade Entries
- Sebastian Majorettes
- CAHS Marching Band
- Charming Twirlers Majorettes with DJ Aluda
- Santa Wonderland Float
- VI School of Performing Arts
- Cultural Christmas Float
- Mungo Niles Cultural Dancers
- Coco & the Sunshine Band
- VI Heritage Dancers
- Ivanna Eudora Kean Float
- Santa’s Living Room – Float
- Glen “Kwabena” Davis – Ole time Christmas Caroling
Miracle on Main Street is funded in part through contributions from: Guardian Insurance, A.H. Riise Stores, Puncha Kuba, West Indian Company, MSI Building Supplies, Bellows International, Virgin Islands Telephone Company, TOPA Properties, Golden Eagle Financial, Royal Dane Mall, Tropical Shipping, Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.
Contributions from participating stores provide security and assist with entertainment for the event.
