June 24, 2005 –– St. John's annual July 4th Celebration continues Saturday, June 25 when Miss St. John will be picked to reign over the entire celebration. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the Winston Wells Ballfield. Contestants are Kaleen Britney Moses, Marissa Duncan, and Tequasi Hendricks.
Lottie Blackwood, who is organizing the Princess, Junior Miss St. John and Miss St. John events, said that Miss St. John contestants will wear a cultural costume instead of the international costume worn in past years.
Miss St. John will be crowned at 1 p.m. June 26 at the Food Fair opening in Cruz Bay Park. The Food Fair honors Sonia Sprauve.
Smith said Sprauve is a long-time participant in Food Fair.
"She's famous for her beautiful displays, pictures made out of shells and her preservatives," Smith said.
A boat race will be held at 3 p.m. the same day in Cruz Bay Harbor.
The Village opens at 7 p.m. June 28 in the Cruz Bay public parking lot across from the Post Office. This year, it honors Floresia Henley.
"She had a booth every year and used to sell pates," Smith said.
The St. John Community Foundation will hold a Children's Village at the parking lot located between the Creek and the V.I. National Park ballfield. It runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. June 29 through July 3.
The event includes face painting, a Nerf football toss, games, and refreshments for sale.
July 3 is Cultural Day. It begins at 1 p.m. with a program in Cruz Bay Park. A Beach Jam at Oppenheimer Beach will follow.
J'ouvert starts at 4 a.m. July 4. It runs from the park ballfield through Cruz Bay's streets.
The parade begins at 11 a.m. July 4 with Gilbert Sprauve as grand marshal. Smith said the committee picked Sprauve because for many years he marched in the parade as an individual entry.
The parade wends its way from the national park ballfield through the streets of Cruz Bay along the waterfront to the Texaco gas station.
The July 4 Celebration wraps up with fireworks over Cruz Bay Harbor at 9 p.m. July 4.
Smith said that the annual celebration is a family time.
"And you see people you only see once a year," she said.
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