Cruz Bay was alive with laughter and excitement Sunday night as the 2024 St. John Celebration Children’s Village returned to its familiar spot at the V.I. National Park Visitor’s Center. Last year, a detour to the Port Authority’s Gravel Lot offered amusement park rides but was located blocks away from the main adult village and live music stage.
The Source took to the streets to ask the young attendees about their favorite parts of this year’s Children’s Village. The responses were as colorful and varied as the event itself.
Barbara Bernadette, 8, shared her joy, saying, “They have places where you can play and stuff you can do, and what I love about that is I can see my friends and we can play games.” Bernadette’s enthusiasm was infectious, as she and her friends ran from one game to another under the watchful eyes of their parents.
Nine-year-old Sophie Schnell had a simpler delight. “The cotton candy,” she exclaimed with a grin. When asked if she preferred pink or blue, Schnell responded with an eager, “Both,” her smile as sweet as the treat she enjoyed.
Ajari Walter, also 8, was quick to declare his favorite activity. “The ball,” he said, referring to the various games like free-throw basketball and tennis ball ring toss that were scattered throughout the village. Walter’s eyes sparkled with the thrill of competition and fun.
Thirteen-year-old Ilomarley King expressed a more social aspect of the event. “What I like the most about the Village is I get to meet new people and I get to play games a lot,” he said. For King, the Village was a place of connection and camaraderie, a space where new friendships blossomed over shared games and laughter.
The 2024 St. John Celebration Children’s Village, sponsored by Freshwater Church, proved to be a hit, bringing joy and a sense of community to the heart of Cruz Bay. As the night wore on, the sounds of children’s laughter and music filled the air, marking another successful celebration.
