ST. JOHN — When St. John was devastated by Hurricane Irma in September, St. Johnians suffered many hardships in the aftermath of the storm. But the residents of Love City haven’t forgotten how to party, and they, along with visitors, came out to last night’s Festival Village opening in celebration of life and the resilience of a community that had bonded together to find sustainable solutions after the 2017 hurricanes.
They packed the small Festival Village area, where vendors served an array of foods synonymous with the annual festivities.
This year the Village was named “Sessionsville” in honor of St. John’s very own Cool Sessions Brass, one of the most popular bands in the U.S. Virgin Islands, whose versatility in music and the quality thereof, has captivated the entire territory and beyond — making Cool Sessions Brass one of the most sought-after groups in the U.S.V.I. The band has been in existence for over 30 years. “We are most honored to have the 2018 Fourth of July Festival Celebration Village named in our honor. We are humbled by this and were proud to share the stage with royalty and dignitaries tonight as the 2018 Festival got underway,” the band said.
Governor Kenneth Mapp during his remarks lauded the resilience of St. Johnians, who he said sustained the brunt of the 2017 storms.
The Festival Village will run until July 4, the last day of festivities here, which include a whirlwind day of activities, among them J’ouvert Morning, Festival Parade, fire works, and the final night of Village performances. See complete lineup here.
Tags: 2018, festival village opening, st john usvi, st. john festival, us virgin islands
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