                                      Gentle Winds
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        St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
        "America's Paradise"

Crucian Christmas Festival on St. Croix USVI

Gentle Winds Resort
Join the Crucian Christmas Festival

Christmas Festival Parade in Christiansted, St. Croix USVI

Colorful costumes are commonplace in the Crucian Festival Parade

View the full slide show of the Crucian Christmas Festival below.

Be patient with the picture loading -- It's well worth the wait!

The St. Croix people (referred to as Crucians) enjoy the holiday season with the rest of the world, but start the celebration the week before Christmas and continue through what is called Three Kings Day. The Christmas Village starts the week before Christmas with entertainment and events scheduled daily. Calypso, Reggae, and Steel Pan competitions, food fair, and beauty pageants -- just a few of the island events taking place at the Village.

The holiday season wraps up in a grand finale of children's parades and finally, the Crucian Christmas Festival Parade. Troupes from all reaches of the Virgin Islands represent local schools, businesses, and community groups. Government dignitaries are well represented with the former Lieutenant Governor entertaining parade-goers as a mocko jumbie.

Always a sight to behold are the large steel pan troupes that ride upon double-decker floats, bouncing and rocking to the beat of the pans as they entertain the crowds. The dance troupes perform in wild and colorful attire, with the elaborate costumes associated with Carnivale. The beauty queens and royal court are dressed in their pageant gowns and have the look of royalty.

There is plenty of variety and diversity in the adult parade, with the first float kicking off around noon. The parade generally wraps up with the last float or troupe passing the judging stand around 7:00 PM -- a full afternoon of Caribbean gala celebration.

Enjoy the pictures and make your reservations early at the vacation rentals at Gentle Winds Resort for next year's Christmas Festival -- it's a very popular time of year in the islands.

Crucian Christmas Festival

Slide Show