ST CROIX — Since 1994, the St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade has lit up the Christiansted Harbor with holiday cheer! This holly jolly tradition started as a heartfelt gesture from the local boating community to thank the St. Croix people for the use of the beautiful waters surrounding the island. The St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade is one of the most well-attended events on St. Croix and the largest boat parade of its kind in the Caribbean. Established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2011, the objective of St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade, Inc. is to unite the community of St. Croix in commemorating the start of the Christmas season with the festive boat parade while supporting charitable children’s organizations in addressing educational needs and beyond.
This year’s parade started at 6:30pm sharp on Saturday, December 9th. Christmasthemed boats lit up the Christiansted Harbor for the crowds gathered along the boardwalk, with 23 boats and vessels of varying sizes competing in categories such as Best Lighting, Best Music, and Best Animation. Long before the parade began, downtown Christiansted was captivated by a flurry of holiday magic. Parade-goers and patrons flocked to the stores for gift shopping and live music. The Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies paraded through the streets high on their wooden stilts, regularly stopping for quick pictures with wide-eye admirers. What’s St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade without the main man himself? Santa Clause weaved through the packed boardwalk crown adorned in his Virgin Islands Madras suit greeting parade-goers and taking pictures with children as they shouted to him what they wanted for Christmas. Street vendors cooked up an assortment of popular Crucian fare that prepared tastebuds for the delicious seasonal treats available only during the holiday season. The energy of the crowds remained at an all-time high thanks to live music from local artists, bands, and steel pan orchestras. The night ended with an illuminating fireworks show that added vibrant bursts of festive colors to the starry Caribbean sky. This magical atmosphere seamlessly combined the spirit of the season with the cool, island breeze, making this year’s boat parade one for the books.
For more information, visit the St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade Facebook page at www.facebook.com/STXBoatParade.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com
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