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Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesChristiansted Goes Green For St. Patrick's Day

Christiansted Goes Green For St. Patrick's Day

Grand Marshall Greg Worrell greets the crowd of paradegoers Saturday.Fifty shades of green were seen Saturday at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Christiansted as the various entries and bystanders danced, sang or stood with the Irish spirit at heart.

The St. Croix St. Patrick’s Day committee marked the 44th annual parade with the theme “Come Together.” Tara Becker, St. Croix St. Patrick’s Day committee member, said the parade gets better every year.

“With everything occurring in the economy, the only thing we can do is come together,” Becker said.

Jeffrey Naar, participating in his first St . Croix St. Patrick’s Day, said the parade and the proper attitude go hand in hand.

“Put your thoughts behind and have a good time,” Naar said.

Green was the color of the day in downtown Christiansted.Luna Williams also enjoyed herself in the parade.

“This is my second year participating in the parade, last year was anomalous but this year was spectacular,” Williams said.

Kendrick Crawford felt the parade embrace positivity rather than the negative aspects in the Virgin Islands community.

“It’s all about having a good time with friends,” Crawford said.

He said Rihanna’s “Cheers to the Weekend” made his day. He said the parade made him unwind.
The predominant color in both the crowd and the parade was green – green clothing, green accessories, even green hair, beards, eyebrows and skin. “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” T-shirts were rampant.

The parade began forming and registering at at Fort Christiansvaern at 10:30 a.m., with the National Park Service and the parade committee providing the rules and regulations to all of the entries. Then it stepped off right on schedule at 11:30 p.m.

Kiki and the Flaming Gypsies parade down King Street.The parade opened with a roar as a team of motorcyclists sped down King Street with their tailpipes barking, followed by the 2013 Grand Marshall Greg Worrell throwing beads and candy to the crowd.

They were followed by the Zumba Fitness troupe, dancing down the road with an exercise performance. The St. Croix Central High School and the St. Croix Educational Complex Marching Bands amused the crowd with their energetic presentations. Both bands chanted their school names throughout the parade.

Kiki and the Flaming Gypsies kicked the excitement even higher with their fire and dance performance. Some of the troupe members twirled on ropes and some danced with hoops. The crowd gasped as one members swung a fire poi – a flaming pot at the end of a chain that one of the Flaming Gypsies swung. The troupe got kids into the act, too, allowing members of the watching crowd to come out and use the hoops.

The parade also featured entries by the Irish Cruzan troupe, with the contestants for the upcoming "I’m Every Woman" competition dancing behind them, Tan Tan Rock, Gentlemen of Jones, Krewe de Croix, D’ People Band, Captain Morgan, Stylee Band Powered by Heineken, The Realist Sound and Crew, Rain Riders, St. Croix Majorettes and the Committee Buggy.

Almost all of the entries threw beads or candy to the crowd while making two laps on the King Street/Company Street loop. Some of the bystanders beat the sunny afternoon with free drinks from some of the floats, while vendors also sold drinks and food along the parade route.

Luna Williams and Jeffery Naar are ready for the parade.Parade committee Sue Stricklian, Fran Geocaris, Jennifer Thomas, Carole Sullivan and Glen Wells helped judge all of the entries at the end of the parade. The entries were judged on uniqueness, costumes and creativity. Winners received a plaque made by Jan Mitchell of Mitchell and Larsen Studios.

The tradition of the St. Patrick’s Day parade started in 1969 after a group of St. Croix businessmen met at Christiansted bar for drinks. One of them asked why St. Patrick’s Day was not celebrated in the territory and suggested it should be. The debate led to the first parade being organized, a truck with a piano and group of people singing Irish songs.

Tara Becker said the parade committee is a nonprofit organization which raises funds for other nonprofit businesses.

Parade coordinator Bil Becker said the proceeds from this year’s parade will be donated to the World Ocean School on the Roseway. He said $4,000 is the goal for the funds.

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