Coconut Festival 2018 By. Ernice Gilbert, VIC
ST. CROIX — St. Croix Farmers in Action Inc. is inviting residents to attend their 4th annual Crucian Coconut Festival this weekend.
The festival, which will be held Sunday at the Estate Bethlehem Sugar Factory, aims to educate residents on all the wonderful uses of the local fruit, the release said.
From 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., there will be activities, games and demonstrations for people of all ages.
Beginning at 7 a.m., there will be a series of three obstacle courses -- a prelude to the main festival -- which are open to everyone ages 6 and up.
The festival will begin at 11 a.m.
According to the release, attendees can expect to be awed by cooking demonstrations by local chefs, horseback and donkey rides, local coconut crafts and treats, coconut spirits, coconut bowling, moko jumbies, and the annual coconut jelly scoop competition.
Live entertainment will be provided by Gyasi Clarke, Digital Band, Young Talented and Gifted Band, among others.
The release said St. Croix’s history is rich and filled with tales of agriculture being the source of economic strength.
The Crucian Coconut Festival was started in 2016 with the mission of reigniting St. Croix’s economy with the help of coconuts. Coconuts remain one of the few natural products that create a wide range of byproducts that the entire world loves and enjoys. Its uses include food, medicines, jewelry, dinnerware, oils, and clothing to name a few.
"At the Crucian Coconut Festival, we highlight the amazing benefits of coconuts with the intent of educating the Crucian people on how this remarkable product grown all over the island can be industrialized into St. Croix’s biggest export," said the release.
Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children and senior citizens.
For more information, call 340-690-1385.
