ST. CROIX — The 20th Annual St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade in downtown Christiansted is believed to have had over 7,000 attendants, according to Dean Andrews, a member of the event’s committee who’s assigned to assuring safety for the fireworks, as well as logistics.
The event has always seen strong turnout, and has been known to kick off the Christmas and Festival season on St. Croix. It is also a family-friendly affair, with children enjoying the fireworks and boat show, making the boat parade good reason to get out.
The fireworks display, which thousands wait to see every year following the boat show, was grander this year, said Mr. Andrews. Indeed, just when eventgoers thought the last firework had lit up the night, more randomly jolted unsuspecting patrons.
“This year we had a couple sponsors who helped us out. We had NRC out of Limetree Bay Terminals, they lent us all four of their barges. We also had Vivot to help us transport the barges out. There were a lot of moving players — Coast Guard — but it was good. Everyone liked the show,” Mr. Andrews said.
Earlier on Saturday, a homicide incident in the parking lot of the Gallows Bay Hardware Store had rattled the community, but residents came out to the boat parade nonetheless. Mr. Andrews said Virgin Islanders were determined not to allow such incidents to sap their enthusiasm about the Christmas and Festival season. “We can’t let that shut us down,” he said. “We’re bigger than this.”
The St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, and solicits donations from local Crucian and family businesses. According to the committee, the efforts to put on the boat parade is no small feat. It takes 19 committee members under the leadership of Chair Sal Sanpere and the Co-Chair Trish Rhodes to organize the show.
Tags: 2018 boat parade
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