The month long Crucian Christmas Festival will open Dec. 3, with a mini-festival presentation to the residents and staff of the Herbert Grigg Homes for the Aged, a mini-parade, troupes music and more, the festival organization announced this weekend. This year’s theme is "Celebrate the Crucian Carnival Flavor for Festival 2011-2012"
- Dec. 4: The annual Soup du Cure, benefiting the Caribbean Education Initiative, will be at Pirate’s Tavern in Salt River Marina from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. This annual soup competition is open to amateur chefs and local restaurants.
- Dec. 10: The mini-village, the smaller precursor to the main festival village, opens in Christiansted at 7 p.m.
- Dec. 11: The prince, princess, and duchess pageant at John H Woodson School startsat 2 p.m. sharp, and the old time night parade winds its way down King Street in Christiansted beginning at 6:30 p.m.
- Dec. 18: The Miss St. Croix pageant at the Island Center for the Performing Arts, starting at 5 p.m.
- Dec. 25: Christmas Day in Buddhoe Park starts at 6:30 p.m. featuring a Christmas concert for children with gospel singers and cartoon characters.
- Dec. 29: The Festival Village opens for 11 big nights; the ribbon cutting is at 6 p.m.
- Jan. 4: Jouvert line up at 6 a.m. at Hannah’s Rest Corner followed by the Food, Arts, and Crafts Fair at noon Wednesday on the Frederiksted waterfront around the Eliza McBean Clock Tower.
Don’t miss Cultural Night, the Quelbe Tramp, and the Old Skool Tramp, and Latin Night featuring Joseph Fonseca with the opening of the festival village, Dec. 29. Also in the Village will be the #1 Haitian band in the country: T-Vice.
Other performers include: Tayna Stevens, Denise Belfon, Blaxx, Onyan and the Three Cylinder Band, and veteran Calypsonions Black Stalin and Calypso Rose in the Village.
Local favorites will also perform in the Festival Village including Pumpa, UMB, Fusion, Stroka, Hartatak, Outta Limits, Rudy, Dennis the Mennis, Image, Express, Complex, Heritage Dancers, The General, Sabor Latino, Liquid Sounds, Prince Galloway, King Derby and many more. See www.stxfestival.com for more details.
Viewers can also see photos of the pageant contestants and get information on ticket locations, as well as download your parade and Food Fair applications. Questions can be emailed to: stxfestival@yahoo.com.
