USVI Beauty Queens

St Thomas Majorettes in action

Moko Jumbies prepare for the parade

Pale Ale Hula Hoop Lady, Gina Colada
Photos: Susan Mann

Native Indian dance troupe performer
Photo: Zarah Rose

ST JOHN, USVI: The tiny island of St John in the US Virgin wound down its annual, week-long Carnival activities with a July 4th, Independence Day Celebration in Cruz Bay.

Parade participants, tourists and island residents finished the traditional J'ouvert (street dancing) which had begun at 4:00 am, and concluded shortly before the parade began at noon.

The first few floats were comprised of members of inter-island royalty: Miss USVI, Miss St Croix, Miss St John, Mrs Senior USVI, a pre-school age, St John Princess, and runners-up, to name a few. Among the forty expected parade participants were various dance troops, civic organizations, local business sponsored floats, musicians, majorette troops, and Moko Jumbies, and others.
 
Adding a genuine touch of St John flair was a team of donkeys which somewhat reluctantly pulled one of the floats.

The Pale Ale float included a "hula-hoop lady" who never missed a beat. Much interest was evidenced in the actual float, as those on board passed out free glasses of Pale Ale to adult watchers who stood in the hot summer, mid day sun.

The St John-based Steel Pan Dragon Youth Orchestra demonstrated members' skills on a new double decker float. Tourist cameras flashed repeatedly as the regionally known troupe, "Native Indian Dancers" passed by.
 
Additional ferry boats were scheduled to carry St Croix, St Thomas, and Tortola residents to the day-long activities, which concluded with a fireworks display at 9.00 pm. Law enforcement was quite visible, as hundreds and hundreds of island visitors disembarked from ferries and the few streets of Cruz Bay swelled beyond capacity.

The St John, July 4th festivities exemplified the unique, cultural mix of West Indies traditions with a major United States holiday. The celebration has continued to grow with each passing year, with tourists coming for Carnival week and staying on-island until after the 4th.