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Don't Stop The Carnival!

CARNIVAL


  • EVENTS
  • V.I. HISTORY & CULTURE
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The Carnival tradition in St. Thomas began in 1912 during the final years of Danish occupation and lapsed during World War I. Revived in 1952, Virgin Islands Carnival has become the second largest festival in the Caribbean. It is based on the ancient African traditions of parading and moving in circles through villages in costumes and masks. Parading around villages was believed to bring good fortune and appease deceased relatives. Carnival masks and costumes are often made with natural elements, like grass or shells, to represent the spiritual forces of nature. Feathers symbolize the ability to rise above misfortune. African drum rhythms, large puppets, stick fighters, and stilt dancers add to eclectic and colorful mix of activities. Be sure to reserve your Picara Pearl suite in time for the festivities. It's the most anticipated cultural event of the year not to be missed! 
April 2019
Video: Virgin Islands Carnival, St. Thomas
It's a time for people to celebrate life with creative costumes, festive calypso and steel pan music, exuberant dancing, flavorful food, and colorful fireworks displays. There are amusement park rides and treats for the kids, and they even have their own parade! 

The U.S. Virgin Islands held its 67th annual Carnival from April 6 to May 4, 2019 on St. Thomas. The theme was “Culture, Fun, and Flair! It's a Carnival 2019 Affair".  Carnival festivities was at their climax Saturday, April 27 to Saturday, May 4 2019. The Children's Parade and the Adults' Parade took place on May 3rd and May 4th respectively along the parade route from below Main Street to Lionel Robert's Stadium.

June 2019
Video: St. John Festival, St. John
There's also a Carnival celebration on a smaller scale in St. John from June to early July. Festival-goers in St. Thomas take a 15-minute ferry ride from Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook to St. John to enjoy the festivities.

The theme for St. John Festival 2019 was "Sixty Five Years of Mas, Pageantry, and a Cultural Scene." As usual, the St. John Festival included some entries from the Virgin Islands Carnival. Festivities were at their climax Sunday, June 24 to Wednesday, July 4th. The Festival Parade took place on July 4th in the St. John National Park Field, Cruz Bay.
A month-long series of dazzling pageants and talent shows are held to choose royalty to rein over the festival. Fun events such as a boat race, greased pig contest and toddlers derby entertain everyone at the festivities. A series of elimination contests to crown top performers are called Calypso Tents. Calypsonians offer satirical commentary on the state of the islands, often times mocking the shenanigans of politicians. Other popular events held during Carnival is J’ouvert, a morning jump up, a food fair presenting the islands’ best traditional cuisine and a competition to crown the King and Queen of the parade troupes. A children's and adults' parade close the lively month with brilliantly costumed and decorated troupes and floats.

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands CARNIVAL SCHEDULE 2019

Date Event Time Location
April 6 Calypso Elimination Tent 8:00 p.m. Austin Monsanto Terminal
April 14 Prince & Princess Selection Show 5:00 p.m. UVI Sports & Fitness Center
April 20 Queen Selection Show 8:00 p.m. UVI Sports & Fitness Center
April 21 Toddlers Derby/Best Dressed Doll 4:00 p.m. Lionel Roberts Stadium
April 22 Carnival at Medical Center 6:00 p.m. Roy Schneider Hospital
April 24 Cultural Day/Monarch of the Band 10:00 a.m. Emancipation Garden
April 25 Junior Calypso Competition 8:00 p.m. Fort Christian Parking Lot
April 26 Opening of Carnival Village 6:00 p.m. Carnival Village
April 27 V.I. Calypso Finals 8:00 p.m. West Indian Company Dock
April 28 Motor Sports Sunday Boat Races 10:00 a.m. Charlotte Amalie Harbor
April 28 Steel Band Jamboree 5:00 p.m. Emancipation Garden
April 29 Soca Monarch Competition 8:00 p.m. Fort Christian Parking Lot
April 30 Senior Citizens' Quelbe Tramp 8:00 p.m. Market Square to Carnival Village
May 1 Cultural Food Fair 8:00 a.m. Emancipation Garden
May 2 J'ouvert Warm-up 12:30 a.m. Veterans Drive
May 2 J'ouvert 4:00 a.m. Veterans Drive
May 3 Children's Parade 10:00 a.m. Main Street
May 4 Adults' Parade 10:00 a.m. Main Street
May 4 Fireworks 8:00 p.m. Charlotte Amalie Harbor
May 4 Last Lap 10:00 p.m. Carnival Village

St. John, Virgin Islands Festival Schedule 2019

Date Event Time Location
June 16 Bike Races 8:00 a.m. St. John National Park Field
June 16 Royalty Pageant 6:00 p.m. Winston Wells Ball Field
June 24 Food Fair & Coronation 1:00 p.m. Franklin A. Powell, Sr. Park
June 24 Boat Races 3:00 p.m. Cruz Bay Harbor
June 28 Festival Village Opening 7:00 p.m. St. John Festival Village
June 30 Children's Village Opening 6:00 p.m. St. John National Park Field
July 2 Poker Run 12:00 p.m. Cruz Bay Waterfront
July 3 Emancipation Day Program 1:00 p.m. Cruz Bay Parking Lot
July 4 J'ouvert 5:00 a.m. St. John National Park Field
July 4 Festival Parade 11:00 a.m. St. John National Park Field
July 4 Fireworks 9:00 p.m. Cruz Bay Harbor
Picture
Steel Band, Carnival, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Carnival troupe
Carnival village
Carnival woman in costume
Carnival troupe
Carnival costume

Video: Carnival Cultural Fair in Emancipation Garden
'Everybody love the Carnival, No don't stop de Carnival, Do as you like, but leave my Carnival, All West Indians love their Carnival, Everybody bound to have their fun, No rain at all can stop de Carnival, Not even hurricanes can stop de Carnival because all de Creole de love their Carnival.' ~ Don't Stop the Carnival by Duke of Iron. Calypso theme song for Carnival 1952.

ST. THOMAS ANNUAL EVENTS

January – Bordeaux Farmers Rastafari Agricultural & Cultural Food Fair
January – Water Island Classical Music Festival
February – St. Thomas Synagogue's Annual Antiques & Art Auction
March – International Regatta
April – Virgin Islands Carnival
May – Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club's Memorial Day Tournament 
June – King of the Wing
July – Coal Pot Cook-Off
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July – Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament
July – Healthy Encores Lifestyle Festival
July – Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club's July Open Marlin Tournament 
August – Texas Society of the Virgin Islands Chili Cook-Off
August  – USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament
October – V.I. Children's Museum Masquerade Ball Fundraiser
November – V.I. Charter Yacht Show
November – Carlos Aguilar Match Race
November – St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair
December – Miracle on Main Street and the Lighted Boat Parade
More Events

2019 Carnival Village Line-Up

Festival Village Honoree: Cool Sessions Brass

June 28: Ish Band, Xpress Band, BDJ & Daddy Jones
June 29: Cool Sessions Brass, Krosfyah
June 30: Ah We Band, Big Band, Poizon
July 1: Fusion and Motto Form St. Lucia, Small AXe, WCK & Claudette Peters
July 2: OMG, V.I.B.E, Rudy Live, Spectrum
July 3: R. City, MX Prime, Orlando Octave, Patrice Roberts, Destra
July 4: Xtreme Band, Cool Sessions Brass, Farmer Nappy, Blax, Kes the Band

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All events start at 8:00 p.m.

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Picara Pearl Villa & Suites Magens Bay
Picara Point, Estate Peterborg
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802
Phone: (317) 7-MAGENS/(317) 762-4367
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., M-F
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