Thousands of onlookers lined King and Company streets on curbs and walls watching the Old Time Nighttime parade in Christiansted Saturday. When the short trek was over people thronged to the Christmas mini-village to make a night of it – eating, drinking, socializing and dancing.
“We came to see the parade, see friends, eat and listen to the music,” Sharifa Springer said.
A little duke, duchess and princess led the spirited parade. Miss St. Croix contestants came next. They were followed by the St. Croix Majorettes all dressed in royal blue satin uniforms.
The kids in the St. Croix Educational Complex Marching Barracudas thrilled the crowd, really getting into their music; the drummers and trombone players in particular seemed really animated. They were not just playing their instruments, they were throwing in some dance steps hitting the rhythm.
The Major Minorettes, made up of mature women, were in character playing cowboys and Indians. One could see their goal was having fun and sharing it with anyone who wanted to forget everyday troubles and take time for a smile.
The Rising Stars steel pan band brought up — and held up — the rear. The double decker flat bed pulled by a pickup truck couldn’t make the corner onto Company Street. The children had to get off the truck, then they maneuvered around the tight corner. Last year their truck broke an axle and held up the parade for a considerable amount of time – this year the problem was quickly remedied. The kids quickly climbed back on, and the bed decorated with white lights and large red, green, and blue stars bounced on down Company Street.
“It was sweet but too short,” Anette Scott said. “They needed a band at the end to tramp along with.”
Melody Rames, public relations person for the festival committee, said it looked like about 3,000 people came out for the third year of the parade.
“The turnout is awesome,” Rames said. “The crowd just keeps getting bigger.” Last year right before parade time it started to rain. This year their was no dampening the exuberance of residents wanting to get into the Christmas festival spirit.
At the Christian “Shan” Hendricks Vegetable Market Square, UMB Soldiers took the stage first. The mini-village continues on Sunday night.
