Community choirs and cultural dancers filled Franklin Powell Park in Cruz Bay with the sounds of Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanza at the 8th Annual Community Holiday Celebration on Saturday night. Residents and visitors filled the area to enjoy performances by church and community choirs, quadrille dancers and St. John’s Quelbe Resurrection Band.
Sing St. John — with help from business, church groups, nonprofits and individuals — staged the event amid the bright lights of a lavishly decorated park and bandstand. Groups of singers young and old took turns delivering holiday tunes and hymns, songs honoring Jewish and regional holiday traditions. Sing alongs prompted audience participation.
Dancers from VI For Life Quadrille Dancers, dressed in madras, swirled and swayed to quelbay music and applause from the crowd. Directed by John Bowry, the troupe combined performers from St. Thomas and St. John who have spent years dancing at celebrations and public events.
Local vendors offered food and drink throughout the night as Quelbay Resurrection struck up the dance music. Sing St. John Director Kristen Carmichael-Bowers thanked those who joined the event and urged them to show appreciation by supporting the elements that help make events like this possible in the future.
In the final performance, everyone in attendance was invited to join in singing Auld Lang Syne.
