ST. JOHN — The smallest of the three main U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John, comes alive throughout the month of June and into early July, for the island’s annual festival, this year seeing a variety of activities and some of the biggest names in Caribbean music.
This year’s theme is “The Present and Past in Ways Never Foreseen”, according to information posted on the festival committee’s official website, which provides thorough information on this year’s events.
While some activities have already passed, the upcoming events — beginning Sunday with the Festival Princess Pageant 2017 — aim to set the stage for a memorable season.
Following the Festival Princess Pageant will be the Festival Queen Pageant on June 24. It will be followed by the Festival Food Fair and Coronation on June 25, with festival boat races happening on the same day.
The action kicks into high gear on June 28 with the opening of Festival Village activities, with this year’s lineup arguably the best of the three festival/carnival events in the territory this season. Some standout names include Ricky T out of St. Lucia, with his smash hit Freaky Girl, the territory’s very own R. City, with big songs like Locked Away and Fete You, MX Prime out of Trinidad with the ubiquitous Soca track, Full Extreme, and Alison Hinds out of Barbados, just to name a few. Other notable names include Stylee Band out of St. Croix, Triple Kay out of Dominica, Asa Bantan out of Dominica, Small Axe Band out of St. Kitts, and Destra out of Trinidad, a frequent performer in the territory.
The Festival Children’s Village opens on July 30; Festival Poker Run and Festival Horse Races on July 2, and an Emancipation Day program on July 3.
The festival season culminates with its two biggest affairs — J’ouvert Morning and parade on July 4, and comes to an end with fireworks the same night at the Cruz Bay Harbor.
Tags: 2017, st. john festival, us virgin islands
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