Dec. 11, 2008 – The Crucian Christmas Festival will host one of its biggest weekends of the season beginning Friday, Dec. 12, when festival-goers will be treated to three shows: the Calypso Eliminations, the Soup du' Cure and the Miss St. Croix Show.
On Friday, 12 calypsonians will battle to see who will compete against current Calypso King, "King Generic," for the coveted Calypso Monarch crown. The show will start at 8 p.m., at the New Drive Inn in Estate Grove Place. The contestants include Kasaun "K-Force" Baptiste, Campbell "King Kan Fu Plentae" Barnes, Joseph "Joey B" Brown, Allan "King Herring" Clarke, Samuel "Mighty Pat" Ferdinand, Lariel "The Teacher" Gerard, Emanuel "Prince Emanuel" Henry, Elvis "Tumba" Liburd, Gemma "Gemma" Noel, Alford Romney, Augustine "Liberator" St. Louis, and Elizabeth Watley. Seven contestants and two alternates will be chosen to proceed to the finals.
The show will have original calypso songs laced with political commentary, global and local current events and gossip, and a sprinkle of raunchy lyrics. The cost is $20 at the door.
On Saturday, people can combine Festival fun with a noble cause. The Soup du; Cure is a fund raiser to benefit the Gov. Juan F. Luis' Centers for Excellence which include the Women's Health Center, Dialysis Unit Center, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center and the Virgin Islands Cardiac Center. The Soup du' Cure will be held at 3 p.m., on Saturday, Dec.13, at Chenay Bay Beach Resort. Kurt Schindler will jump start the musical selection. The judging of the soup competition will start at 5:30 p.m., and the music resumes with the legendary Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights. The night concludes with an old school after-party with DJ Poppy Pops.
Tickets are available at Hilary's Beauty Spot, Alliance Clothing and Urban Threadz; they are $15 before and $20 at the door.
The weekend ends with the Miss St. Croix Show at 5 p.m., on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Paul E. Joseph Stadium in Frederiksted. Smooth reggae, recording artist Da'Ville from Jamaica W.I. Da'Ville, famous for hit songs such as "Always On My Mind" and "Can't Get Over You," will guest star. Five contestants will compete for the coveted title of Miss St. Croix: Chenelle Brady, Cherise King, Elizabeth Nieves, Tina Pierre Louis and Sheniqua Robinson.
Reserved seats are $35 in advance, $40 at the door. General admission is $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Tents will be erected over the reserved seating area. Persons with general seating are urged to bring their beach chairs, as other seating is limited. Tickets are available at Armstrong Ice Cream, Frederiksted; Essentric Shoe Boutique, Grove Place; Urban Threadz, Sunny Isles; and Riddims Music Store, Christiansted.
For more information, visit the Festival Web site at www.stxfestival.com.
