Sept. 18, 2008 – This year's Crucian Christmas Festival theme, "Showcasing Cultural Ties that Bind, Festival 2008-2009," celebrates the diverse culture of St. Croix and encourages unity among Virgin Islanders, those who choose to call this island home and the visitors who come to our shores. The Crucian Christmas Festival Organization Inc. (CCFO) has announced the St. Croix community and Festival visitors of the new additions to this year's festivities.
The Christiansted Mini Village at the Christian "Shan" Hendricks Vegetable Market will kickoff the Festival. Featuring nightly entertainment food and fun, it begins Thursday, Dec. 4, and culminates Saturday, Dec. 6, with the 2nd Annual Traditional Nighttime Lantern Parade. The parade begins at Times Square and goes down King Street to Hospital Street where it turns up Company Street to the Market.
Another new Festival addition will be the "Soup Cook-off." Festival vendors will compete for prizes and bragging rights. On the menu will be all kinds of soup: chicken soup, fish soup, kalaloo and many more. It will begin at noon, on Saturday, Dec. 13, on Cheney Bay beach. All the proceeds benefit the Juan F. Luis Hospital Cancer Center.
Rounding out the list of new events is the Old Time Traditional Pastry, Treats and Food Fair starting at noon, on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Christian "Shan" Hendricks Vegetable Market in Christiansted. Take a day off from your diet because all the pastry, sweets and treats you have been longing for will be on sale from some of the best bakers and candy makers on St. Croix.
The success of the first Party Monarch ever in the Virgin Islands and the revival of the Band-O-Rama in Festival 2007-2008 will be eclipsed by the show planned for partygoers this year. The bands are lining up to participate and the Party Monarch contenders are planning an exciting show!
Of course, Festival would not be Festival without the Miss St. Croix, Prince, Princess and Duchess shows. The Calypso Monarch, junior and adult King and Queen of the Band, the arts, crafts and food fair, all the village entertainment, the adults and children's parades, and much more are all the lined-up for everyone to enjoy.
