While earlier in the week many business owners in the area said they didn’t know about Friday’s annual Havensight Christmas Tree lighting, attendance at the event told a different story, with crowds starting to build at the mall at about 6 p.m.
Sponsored by the West Indian Co. Ltd, the event is now in its 35th year and is generally seen as the kick off to the Christmas season on St. Thomas, delivering Santa, 1,000 free gifts, a student parade and, of course, the traditional lighting of the tree across from WICO’s headquarters near the Havensight dock. Added to the crowd this year were passengers aboard the Carnival Sunshine, which stayed in port well into the evening.
“The parade was awesome, the music is lively, and the whole atmosphere is just amazing,” said Jerry Kohn, who was visiting from Tennessee. “This is the most fun we have ever had on a cruise. What’s more, it’s a beautiful night, the breeze is flowing, the stars are out, and it’s been wonderful to walk around and just share this cultural experience.”
While there were mixed reviews from locals about a few of the logistics – many said they favored when the event was spread out in front of the businesses at the mall instead of centered in the parking lot near the dock – most also said Friday’s event was something they tried not to miss.
“I’ve been coming since I was small, and it is always just such a great time,” said Julius Jackson, professional boxer and chef. Friday was the first of two fairs this weekend for Jackson, who was selling his acclaimed cookbook, “My Modern Caribbean Kitchen,” while chatting up old friends and dancing to the bands performing near the dock.
“I love mingling with everyone, and always getting such a warm reception. My cookbook came out in 2017, and I’m always excited to share it with people who say they are able to send it to their families off-island and give them a taste of the cooking back home. It’s no different tonight. The crowd is great and so is the feedback, and I’m grateful for that,” Jackson said.
Another vendor, Carmen Staley, also shared her memories of the event over the past 25 years, when she moved back to St. Thomas after serving in the Navy.
“Back then, I was working alongside Ms. Dorothy Elskoe and the Committee to Revive Our Culture, and what has never changed is being able to come out and experience the wonderful greetings and camaraderie,” she said. “For the past 10 years, I’ve been cooking on my own, and while the event has continued to move around the mall, I do like watching the Christmas tree light up and catching up with people I don’t see all year.”
Staley, who owns and operates Mama’s Shack in Yacht Haven Grande, said she started prepping her dishes last week and was cooking from Thursday evening through Friday afternoon. Her local fish, chicken and veggie dishes are popular on the island, and throughout the evening, her table was as packed as her restaurant is during the week.
“That’s what it’s all about,” said Anthony Ottley, WICO’s interim president and chief executive officer. “This is really the start of the Christmas season here on St. Thomas and we love seeing the vendors that come out every year, everyone having a good time and, especially, all the students that come out and perform, or line up for Santa.”
While Ottley preferred not to talk about tensions, if any, in the midst of the festivities, between WICO and the Government Employees Retirement System as WICO transitions away from managing the mall, he did say that the event continues to be sponsored by the company, which has been on St. Thomas for more than a century.
“It’s wonderful around 7 p.m. when families really start to come out, and you see the adults staying around late for our bands, especially the headliners like Spectrum Band and Top Notch, which we have this year,” Ottley said. “After Thanksgiving, we really start to head into the Christmas season, and we love being able to create that feeling of the season, with music, Santa and presents for the kids.”
