May 3, 2003 – The frolicking finale of Virgin Islands Carnival 2003 captured the imagination of thousands of spectators on St. Thomas and delivered on its promise of "music, mas and pageantry" in a big way.
The spectacle got off to a slow start, but once the police cruiser and motorcycle detail zipped down the street and saluted Gov. Charles W. Turnbull at Post Office Square at 11:30 a.m., it was showtime. Before it was over 55 troupes, floupes and individual entries traveled the route down Main Street in an Adults Parade that lasted seven hours.
Steel pan bands and mocko jumbies were sprinkled among the troupes but not as many as in past years. Many of the troupes themselves were smaller in numbers too. It seemed 2003 was the year of the troupe in different sizes and colors, ruffles and feathers, glitter and glamour.
Queen Jennelle Sarauw and her court rolled into Alvaro De Lugo Post Office Square shortly after the appearance of Grand Marshal Alan Richardson, who reveled in the moment. "It's great," he said. "After 37 years, I'm finally in the front."
A string of royalty perched atop convertibles waved languidly to the crowds in the hot morning sun. The first of several majorette troupes performed a tightly orchestrated dance routine for the judges. They were followed by the Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra who entered the square playing the hymn, "How Great Thou Art" in tribute to Gerald E. Hodge Sr., the man for whom Carnival Village is named and father of Rising Stars director John Hodge. Hodge died just two weeks before the official opening of the Village.
Turnbull briefly left the reviewing stand to congratulate John Hodge and picked up a cow bell to pound a few notes with the band.
Music from more than a dozen bands drove the rhythm that gave the parade its spark. But the parade had sparkle too. Bits of sunlight danced on the gold bugle beads that swung from the shoulders of 18-year-old Cadilla George. A dancer from the age of 3, George credited her Trinidadian mother and Crucian father for giving her a natural bounce.
One of Carnival's great spectator sports is spotting celebrities in disguise. Seven-year-old Carnival Princess Laquanda Fredericks showed up as a Charming Twirlers majorette, one of the tiniest in a talented bunch. "We've had her for about three or four years," director Migdalia Feliciano said.
Adults Parade is also a great time to spot friends and family returning home for the season. Yvonne Lawrence, now living in New York, was dressed in white from head to toe to jam with the Freshwater Association, a group of Virgin Islanders now living in the States. "It's a great experience to go abroad and then to come home and enjoy Carnival," she said.
Spectators also came from afar. Don Johnson formerly served the V.I. government as a consultant on its Y2K computer project. This time, he said, he had a chance to experience Carnival for the first time.
"I like it. I like it a lot. There's so much color and so many things happening, no wonder it's a long-standing Caribbean tradition," he said.
Some parade troupers, like Brent Donovan, went down the road more than once. At mid-afternoon Donovan stood by a storefront near Royal Dane Mall, peeled off the lime green pants that made up the bottom part of his previous costume, dug into a bag and hauled out a black velvet getup with a cape on the back. He slipped it on and fastened clusters of bells on his sneakers. Out in the road the Tropical Masqueraders were marching by and Donovan was ready to join them.
When fully dressed, Tropical Masqueraders lose their individual identity. Once they climb into the one-piece jumpsuits, wrap the velvet hoods around their heads and slip on the masks, they're completely covered.
"It's very hot," Donovan said, as he pulled down his mask and took a rope whip out of his bag.
Checking his shoes for the proper jingle, the newly converted clown jumped into the street and with a crack of his whip headed back up the road.
For a look at more colorful images of the Adults Parade participants captured by Source contributing photographer W.I. Bostwick, see the Community/Other stuff section of St. Thomas Source.
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