Scenes of the first KidsVille at the Crucian Christmas Festival Village, organized by West Gyul and the Division of Festivals. Photo Credit: WEST GYUL/DIVISION OF FESTIVALS
The first-ever children's village was held Wednesday night at the Crucian Christmas Festival Village, and with a reception this positive, it might be hard for the Division of Festivals to make it a one-off.
Organized by West Gyul — the popular Facebook page run by multiple individuals highlighting the good about the St. Croix community — KidsVille became a reality after negotiations between the Division of Festivals and the leadership of the St. Croix Calypso Committee fell apart. The West Gyul team, in collaboration with the Division of Festivals, had to act swiftly, having less than a week to organize the event.
Now, the feedback is coming in, and Facebook is filled with posts praising KidsVille and calling for the event to be a permanent part of the Crucian Christmas Festival.
Wednesday night's effort featured kid-friendly performances from several groups, including Moko Jumbies, quadrille, fire dancers, folklore, kids Zumba, face painting and more. Areas designed for snapping pictures with loved ones were a hit. The event was bolstered by the amusement park installed at the village every festival.
"Can yall believe our community pull off #kidsvilleindehvillage in three days. It was my idea but y’all make it a reality!!!" stated the West Gyul page, elated by the outcome of the event.
Gjoe Carrion expressed his admiration for the collaborative spirit shown at the Kidsville event. "Tonight was a true display of a community working together for the good of our children," he said. He was delighted to participate in an event that transformed from a Facebook post to reality swiftly, thanks to the efforts of West Gyul. Carrion emphasized the efficiency and dedication it took to bring the plan to fruition.
"Kidsville was an amazing event and I am glad I was able to be a part of it. From a fb post to reality in a short amount of time West Gyul showed what it takes to create and execute a plan. May this be the start of something great for many years to come. Congratulations on your success," he concluded.
