No strike is going to stop the carnival, or in this case St. Croix’s Crucian Christmas Festival Children’s Parade.
In mid-November, Vera Falu, president of the Festival’s organizing committee, said she was concerned about whether the traditional parade for children would be held this year because a three-week-long strike by teachers had knocked out preparation time.
On Wednesday, though, Falu said she has recently received a "barrage" of calls from teachers and parents upset at the prospect of the parade being cancelled. That concern has translated into action, she said.
"I was pleasantly surprised that there was a lot of other people in the community who were upset as I was," Falu said. "We are very happy to report there will be a Children’s Parade on St. Croix."
The parade, scheduled for Jan. 5, features youngsters from public and private schools who are prepared by their teachers. With the strike and the subsequent state of flux in classrooms, Falu was concerned that the parade wouldn’t happen.
But now, the stage is set for this year’s Festival in Christiansted, the theme of which is "Memories of Our Cultural Past — A Solid Foundation for Our Future."
The Festival has been an island tradition since 1952 and will kick off this year with:
MISS ST. CROIX PAGEANT
PRINCE AND PRINCESS SHOW
Sunday, Dec. 17
Vocational Educational Complex
FESTIVAL POSTER UNVEILING
Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m.
Gertrude's Restaurant
FOOD, ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL
Friday, Dec. 22 at 10 a.m.
Christiansted Vegetable Market
CALYPSO MONARCH ELIMINATION
Friday, Dec. 22 at 8 p.m.
Midland
CONEY ISLAND RIDES OPEN
Saturday, Dec. 23
Parade Grounds
HERITAGE VILLAGE OPENS
Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 8 p.m.
JR. CALYPSONIAN COMPETITION
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Village
QUELBE NIGHT
Thursday, Dec. 28
Village
GREEKS' NIGHT
"A Showcase of Sororities and Fraternities in a Stepping Show"
A cultural mix with a college twist
Friday, Dec. 29
Village
LATIN NIGHT SALSA CONTEST
Saturday, Dec. 30
Village
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Sunday Dec. 31
KING AND QUEEN OF THE BANDS COMPETITION
Monday, Jan. 1
Village
CARIBBEAN NIGHT FOLKLORE
SHOW FROM CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
Tuesday, Jan. 2
CALYPSO MONARCH COMPETITION
Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 8 p.m.
Island Center
IMAGINATIONS BRASS
Thursday Jan.4 at 12 a.m.
J'OUVERT
Thursday, Jan. 4 at 4 a.m.
CRUCIAN BREAKFAST IN THE VILLAGE
Thursday, Jan. 4 from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m.
CULTURAL NIGHT
"A Community Quadrille"
Thursday, Jan. 4
Village
CHILDREN'S PARADE
Friday, Jan. 5
THREE KING'S DAY (ADULTS) PARADE
Saturday, January 6
LAST LAP–ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS
Sunday, Jan. 7
