Among the attendees of Friday night's Limpricht Park Tree-Lighting event on King Street, Christiansted, St. Croix was Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach, seen upper left in the picture collage. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
The mood was one of togetherness and delight at the 4th annual Limpricht Park Tree-Lighting event in downtown Chritsiansted Friday night, where organizers essentially kicked off the Christmas/holiday season on St. Croix with music played by local legends Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, along with a host of other performances.
Special homage was also paid to one of the event's long-standing and most ardent supporters, Francis Gustav Jr., who unexpectedly passed on Jan. 24 this year.
The Limpricht Park event is a culmination of a host of activities held by the Crucian Cultural Group as part of the Christmas season, including "Ah Drive Thru Culture Window", and the "Mobile Lantern Motorcade". There's also a popular parade of lights event, however it was not held this year due to organizers' continued concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stanley and the Knights kept the mood merry throughout the night with their signature sound and fabled Christmas music. Other performances included skits, poems and cultural dances. Special guests and sponsors of the event were invited to sit and enjoy the show, which came to a head with the lighting of the Limpricht Park.
Vivian Ebbesen Fludd, chairwoman of the Crucian Cultural Group, reminisced on the event's early days and how it has grown rather quickly to becoming a staple on St. Croix. "We started four years ago with an idea to light the park and broadcast it on TV. Four years later and we are here; it has become a big community event," she told the Consortium Friday night, adding that Covid-19 did not stop the event as the group simply pivoted to offer it virtually.
Regarding last night's affair, Ms. Fludd said, "We have 13 tree sponsors and five major corporate sponsors. It’s like we have our own Times Square. The lights will stay on from December 9 until January 8. Last year, we had families taking their Christmas family photos at the park and we hope to see the same this year."
Cynthia Arnold, vice president of operations at Diageo USVI — a major sponsor of the tree-lighting event, lauded the gathering as essentially ushering in the Christmas season on St. Croix. "When coming to this event I look forward to our cultural Christmas history, the lightning of the park, and just the start of the season where we are able to see friends, families and the community," she said.
Paulette Nicholas, an African American residing on St. Croix attended for the first time and was impressed. She said she was invited by a friend and decided to attend based solely on the friend's enthusiasm. "I work with her and her enthusiasm won me over, she was so excited about it that I had to come," Ms. Nicholas said. "So far it seems wonderful. I love the ambiance and it is amazing."
This year's themes were "Ah Glow for Deh World to See", and "Ah Glow in the Park: Lights Galore on King Street".
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