You would not have known that the St. Croix Carnival Committee suffered a budget shortfall for the Crucian Christmas Carnival festivities, because the 2014-2015 events, which culminated with the Adult’s Parade in the town of Frederiksted on Saturday, has been one of the most successful, colorful and well-attended parades in recent memory.
From the Claude O. Markoe Elementary School the troops came into formation, accompanied by some of St. Croix’s major bands as they danced down the street with thousands of residents and visitors viewing from either side. The groups were diverse, too: steel pan orchestras, a Crucian-Puerto Rican Friendship group accompanied by a replica of baby Jesus in a manger, and another troop, consisting of mostly Caucasian-Crucians, performed magic as they played with fire and performed other tricks. There were also men dressed like Zulus, performing African dances.
Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen was seen with the group Gentle Men of Jones, dancing and having a good time. Christensen is known for participating in various community events and carnival is no exception. Elsewhere, John P. de Jongh, enjoying his last carnival as Governor of the Virgin Islands, could be seen waving to the crowds as troops made their way to the Carnival Village, where they were scheduled to stop.
From the onset, beginning with the Romney’s World Carnival Village opening, to J’ouvert Morning, the Children’s and Adult’s Parades, turnout and participation stood in company with the most successful St. Croix carnivals.
‘Wuk up’, the party term used to describe waist movement, is a risqué dance performed by Caribbean party goers that tends to be sexually suggestive.
And, what a ‘wuk up’ session it was.
Local women, scantily dressed in carnival costumes, could be seen ‘wuking up’ on trucks, each other, in the middle of the streets and even on bikes, as they made their way through the Frederiksted town, all while being wildly supported by onlookers, who themselves could not help but to join the reveling as well.
By the time the troops had paraded through the street, day had turned into night, which lead people straight to Romney’s World Carnival Village, where the night’s theme was “Girl Power”, as local and foreign female Soca artists took to the stage to perform their biggest hits. The lineup included: Digital Band; World Famous X-Press Band; Rudy (STT); Elizabeth Watley (STX); Claudette Peters (Antigua) and Denise Belfon from Trinidad, backed up by the World Famous X-Press Band.
Carnival festivities come to close on Sunday nigh at the Carnival Village, and features artists such as, Moonarch and the Swaggerific Band (STX); Calypso Monarch Competition winner (STX); Prince Galloway (STX); King Derby (STX) and King Obstinate from Antigua.
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