Dec. 2, 2007 — Residents and tourists alike wandered up and down King Street and Company streets Saturday night, stopping to talk to those gathered on the sidewalk in anticipation of the Christmas Festival Kick-off Parade.
The area around Sunday Market Square was especially festive, with no seats left available on the wall that lines the east end of the square and separates it from the businesses there. Small local restaurants catered to the crowds, with luscious smells coming through the doors and windows along the parade route.
With the Christmas parade following only an hour after a candlelight vigil promoting AIDS awareness, King Street remained closed to traffic, as did most side streets.
The parade was advertised to start promptly at 8 p.m., but not many seemed concerned that it started 20 minutes late. It began with pageant contestants and queens in convertibles and ended with some of its mature residents in masks and madras dresses.
The first baton twirlers were the St. Croix Majorettes, and the last group was the Major Minorettes from the Evelyn M. Williams Elementary School.
"We could not ask for a better festival kickoff," said Davidson Charlemagne, Crucian Christmas Festival president, according to a news release. "Saturday's night parade was a big success!"
Although the number of troupes was not as large as the traditional parade, comments from the crowd were overwhelmingly positive, the release said.
Not quite all comments were positive, though. One man who didn't give his name said, "It was too late, too short, and the music was bad," though he smiled as he watched the antics and dancing of the last troupe.
"This is the first time we have tried this, and the response is good," Charlemagne said. "The crowd was out there, and one thing everyone said is that the night parade beats the heat of the day parades."
This year's festival committee is committed to inclusion for all residents of St. Croix, and the kickoff event in Christiansted demonstrates that commitment, he said.
"Everyone on St. Croix has a stake in these festival activities, and we are calling for people who have the will and energy to help make this year's festival the best ever to come and lend a hand," Charlemagne said. "It's not too late to give your support. We have a long way to go until Jan. 5, and a lot of activities to manage."
Saturday's parade was not without incident, the release said.
"There was a group of individuals who brought their personal squabble to the festival event," Charlemagne said. "However, the police quelled the disturbance immediately and the night proceeded without any more interruptions."
Charlemagne thanked the V.I. Police Department for its assistance and warned those who seek to disrupt festival events that violence will not be tolerated.
The Crucian Christmas Festival Commemorative Magazine debuted at the event. The 32-page glossy, full-color magazine, which sells for $7, will be available at all festival events. The magazine features articles on the history of the festival and St. Croix, pictures of pageant contestants, the festival schedule and other information.
Also for sale at the event were the official 2007-2008 festival T-shirts, featuring a drawing by local artist Pennyfeather displaying St. Croix scenes and bearing this year's festival theme, "Culture, History and Tradition remains on the slate for festival 2007 -2008." The shirts sell for $15 each.
The committee thanked the parade participants, as well as the St. Croix Rising Stars Steel Band and Ruption Band, which entertained the crowd in the Christian "Shaun" Hendricks Vegetable Market after the parade.
Gov. John deJongh Jr., on island for an AIDS vigil earlier in the day, remained in Christiansted to show his support of the festival.
"Support festival," Charlemagne said. "It belongs to all of us, and with everyone's cooperation and participation this Christmas season will be the best ever."
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
