May, 1, 2004 — The history, culture, pride and spirit of the Virgin Islands were set in motion at 10 a.m. Saturday when Carnival Adult Parade was turned loose upon Main Street, Charlotte Amalie.
At 11 a.m., as the pounding, steel-pan rush of the approaching paraders began to drift up the street, a hush fell over crowds gathered in bleachers, fold-up chairs, and on foot in front of the Alvarado DeLugo Sr. Post Office and up Government Hill. Carnival was coming for one long, last hurrah.
And from the moment Gov. Charles W. Turnbull announced parade marshal Ira "Dr. Sax" Meyers' grand entrance, to when the Last Indians headed out onto the part-path, a glorious celebration of all that is Caribbean swept before the thousands of spectators stretched along the route.
Vanessa Mactavious, Ursula Richards, Kile Ryan and Alva Ottley arrived just before 6 a.m. to stake out prime seats east of the main viewing area where dignitaries Turnbull, Carnival Committee chairman Kenneth L. Blake and others sat in the cool comfort of a temporary grandstand.
Mactavious comes every year for the Mocko Jumbies, while Ottley prefers the clowns, but about the art of obtaining a perfect, shaded spot to watch the mas' and pageantry unfold, the ladies agree, "You have to get here early or you'll won't get good seats!"
Carnival Queen Charlene Kilpatrick and her stately court descended from a tiered float streaming with gold, blue and white decorations to a round of applause and, with a wave of Kilpatrick's wand, the festivities went into full swing.
Next into the spotlight of Post Office Square were Sebastien's Majorettes, who danced and twirled a tribute to the Virgin Islands's official music, Quelbe, in which the sequined crew went on a "Charlie's Angels" mission "to discover the most unique music on the planet."
Mission accomplished, the Sebastien women headed on to Lionel Roberts Stadium, where later they would do their best to impress Parade judges and the growing crowds in the stands.
A few, brief, rain showers came and went, but as was proclaimed on the banner of the well-prepared Fun Lover's troupe, "Rain Don't Stop Deh Carnival!" That the Fun Lover's were, according to member Melissa Gibson, "A group or rain Goddesses," may have helped, as each of the dancers carried a silver umbrella and seemed to revel in the downpours.
Whether marchers or watchers, everybody at the Adult Parade went on "A Journey Through a Cultural Door In 2004," as this year's Carnival has been dubbed. Virtually every period of the Caribbean's past was celebrated: Zulu tribes marched to the beat of African drums; Gypsies garbed in wild colors threw propriety to the wind; Egyptians Queens and Pharoah's sprang from ancient, desert sands and grooved to the beat of pumping Road Marches.
Favorites in this year's march include: "Soldiers," "Banga lang," "Big Belly Pappy," and "J'ouvert." The winner will be the band whose song is played most often in Post Office Square, and will be announced later this week.
Several troupes celebrated anniversaries Saturday, and newcomers, Mystique and Associates, made their way down the street for the first time with the apt theme "First Time Fete." Stunts and Twirlers celebrated 30 years while Intrigue troupe made five years.
Well-known, political commentator and professor, Gilbert Sprauve, brought his usual, political levity to the festivities with his "Pet Projects" involving caged stuffed- animals, and a wooden wheelbarrow with lots of signage. He handed the crowd IOU's and to a few, including the governor, a calling card that read: "To the rescue, the honorable Wheely B and the Petting Zoo aka We'll Borrow; specializing in pet projects, raking of muck, massaging of bills, featherbedding, non-bid contracts, and Christmas tree decorations."
Sarah and Kyle Treben, a honeymooning couple from Raleigh, N. C., said they had, "never seen anything like this." The couple will leave for the adventure of married life on Monday but were pleased that their marriage plans coincided so well with Carnival. "The steel bands are amazing, the costumes are gorgeous! We sure don't have anything like this back in Raleigh!" Sarah related, doing her best to be heard above the joyful, oil-drum magic of the St. Thomas All Stars.
For British Virgin Islander, Bernard Skelton, who says he always pays his respect to St. Thomas Carnival, the Adult Parade has a deeper meaning than might be seen in the flashing colors and vibrant music alone.
"It's about celebrating emancipation from slavery and all of the cultural influences that have made the Virgin Islands what they are," Skelton said during a much needed water-break in front of H&S jewelers, "It's an intimate celebration as well. You know, if it's at Parade or in the Village, a lot of families and old friends reunite during Carnival."
Pat Fitch, a Gypsy Troupe dancer, came back from the states to show her V.I. pride, as well as her love of rolling with the Gypsies. "The Gypsies are the best!" she proclaimed before charging down Main Street, shouting over her shoulder, "Just look at these costumes!"
The Radiant Suns of the V.I. Water and Power Authority offered one of this year's biggest and most flamboyant costumes. At least three of WAPA's favorite "Suns" were needed to carry the authority's king and queen of the band costumes; with one reveler wearing an almost life-sized rainbow, and another who appeared to be a majestically overgrown tropical flower.
Throughout the day attendees were treated to more than 50 troupes, floupes, majorette groups, mocko jumbies and steel bands, along with calypso monarchs, Carnival queens, prince and princesses and a substantial number of individual entrants.
And as sunlight gave way to evening's electric glow along Main Street, Hug-a-Bunch and the last Traditional Indians danced and drummed past hundreds, if not thousands, of people still lining the party trail.
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