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July 4th Celebration events start in May

May 27, 2009 – Although the July 4th Celebration parade is many weeks away, activities that precede the finale begin Saturday with Pan-O-Rama, which starts at 4 p.m. at Cruz Bay Park.
"It entails a mixture of children to professional," organizer Ira Wade said.
Wade expects St. John's own youth steel pan group, the Pan Dragons, to perform. Other groups are from St. Thomas and include Pan In Motion, Charlotte Amalie High School Mellow Hawks, Joseph Sibilly School Sun Rays, Ulla Muller School Panatics, the Phoenix Sounds, the St. Thomas All Stars, the Kirwan Terrace West Stars, the Superior Court Rising Stars, and pan groups from Bertha C. Boschulte, E. Benjamin Oliver and Joseph Gomez Schools.
Following Pan-O-Rama, there will be a lull in Independence Day activities until June 19. That's when the Senior Variety Show takes places at 7 p.m. at the Winston Wells Ballfield.
Organizer Jane Johannes said the event features seniors as well as those younger, singing and displaying their talent in other ways during the 2 and a half-hour show.
"Seniors have just as much talent as young ones," she said.
The Bike Race gets underway at 8 a.m. June 20. It honors Yulandra Wilson-Potter, who died several years ago. She was a mover and shaker who kept the race rolling in its early years. The race runs from V.I. National Park Visitors Center ballpark along Centerline to the Coral Bay Triangle, back up Centerline Road to King Hill Road, down King Hill to the North Shore Road. It ends at Hawksnest Bay Beach.
"It's a great race and gets lots of the fast racers from Tortola," organizer Jane Thill said.
The Festival Mix heats up at 9 p.m. June 20 at the Winston Wells Ballfield. Organizers are still signing acts for this event.
St. John's princess will be chosen at a pageant to be held at 6 p.m. June 21 at Winston Wells Ballfield. Contestants are St. John resident Daniela Joseph, 8, who is in the third grade at Julius E. Sprauve School, and St. Thomas residents Akwesha Brathwaite, 9, and Me'Kayla Smith, 7. Akwesha is in the fourth grade at E. Benjamin Oliver School and Me'kala is a second grader at Weslyan Academy.
St. John Administrator Leona Smith, who chairs the Festival and Cultural Organization of St. John, said the committee opened the pageants to women and girls living on St. Thomas because not enough St. John residents were interested.
Devon Alfred, 9 and a Sprauve School fourth grader, is the pageant's prince.
The Children's Carnival Village opens June 26 at the Creek. It features games and rides for children in an alcohol-free environment.
Judges pick Miss St. John at a pageant held at 8 p.m. June 27 at Winston Wells Ballfield. Contestants are St. John residents Shereena Didier, 18, a junior at Eudora Kean High School, and Kerla Fessale, 18, a senior at the Gifft Hill School. Contestants from St. Thomas include Lea' Scott, 19, a University of the Virgin Islands freshman, and Eudora Kean senior Shari Chryss Alfred, 17.
Visitors can enjoy the best from the island's cooks at Food Fair, held at 1 p.m. June 28 in Cruz Bay Park. Miss St. John will be crowned at the same time. This year, Food Fair will honor Clemeana Hodge-Duncan for her more than 10 years of participation in July 4th Celebration activities. Smith said she and her family have a booth at Food Fair and in the Village.
"She has different cultural dishes you don't get everywhere," Smith said. "And she's always willing to give a helping hand."
Boat races begin at 2 p.m. June 28 in Cruz Bay Harbor.
According to organizer Glenville "Slim" Ross, the race will be held in Cruz Bay Harbor for the smaller boats and outside the harbor for the larger boats.
Classes include two classes of Jet Skis, a classes for boats with 40 to 60 horsepower, 60 to 90 horsepower, 100 to 140 horsepower, 200 to 225 horsepower, and modified tunnel built.
"That's very fast," Ross said of the modified tunnel built boats.
The July 4th Celebration Village opens at 7 p.m. June 29 in the parking lot across from the post office. It will be called Pennville in honor of James Penn. Many years ago, he served as the committee chairman.
"He donates lots of his time," Smith said.
Cultural Day begins at 3 p.m. July 3 in Cruz Bay Park. The event features music, conch shell blowing, drumming, and a skit.
J'ouvert starts at 4 a.m. July 4.
The parade gets under way at 11 a.m. July 4 in Cruz Bay. Former V.I. National Park Ranger Schuler Brown will be parade marshal.
"He's helped with organizing the parade, and he's a very personable guy," Smith said.
Fireworks will be held in the sky over Cruz Bay Harbor, starting at 9 p.m. July 4.
The entire shebang wraps up at 1 p.m. July 5 with a Beach Jam at Oppenheimer Beach. Drinks and food such as chicken legs will be for sale.
"You can go to the beach and relax," Smith said.

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