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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesCrowds Thrill to Fireworks Over The Caribbean

Crowds Thrill to Fireworks Over The Caribbean

From Coconuts and Rainbow Beach to the north, all the way south to the Coral Beach Resort, the beach around Frederiksted was the place to be Saturday night as the annual Fourth of July fireworks brought "oohs" and "aaahs" from thousands of people gathered on the west end of St. Croix.

People were camped on the beaches, with barbecues, coolers, bonfires and music to enjoy the aerial pyrotechnics sponsored by the Frederiksted Economic Development Association.

As dusk deepened the crowds grew, as families and revelers swelled the crowds on the Strand by Buddhoe Park and the cruise ship pier. Music played from competing speakers up and down the sea walk, and the street turned into a very mobile party, with people passing up and down, enjoying the festive atmosphere.
When the fireworks started the crowds stopped flowing, as all faces turned out to sea to watch the show. Each year the fireworks are launched from the end of the pier, doubling the effect of the air bursts as their colorful explosions are mirrored in the water.
At Ono’s, a fire burned down on the beach while diners gathered to watch the fireworks from the open-air dining area, and patrons clustered around the sidewalk tables in front of the Blue Moon Restaurant.
At Polly’s on the Pier, the crowd that swelled the coffeehouse-eatery rushed to the doorways when the fireworks started.
"There were lots of people — it was a very nice turnout," said co-owner Steve Schawll. "Everyone had a good time."
Since Polly’s opened last winter, Schawll had always thought that one particular table, a bar across one of the two doorways on the Strand side of the building, was going to be a good place to watch the fireworks. It turned out he was right, and a dozen customers gathered around to watch the show.
"It was the place to be, without a doubt," he said.
Then, after the last barrage of skyrockets marked the firework show’s finale, a new light show started up, as families returned to their cars, turned on the headlights and started making their way out of the area. The St. Croix police had the situation well in hand, funneling lines of cars down back and side streets to keep the traffic flowing.
Within half an hour of the last multi-colored explosion, the neighborhood streets were almost back to normal.

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