The festivities kicked off with traditional events like the Prince & Princess Show, Queen Show, Calypso Monarch, and Panorama. These events set the stage for a vibrant celebration that drew thousands, including locals, the wider Caribbean diaspora, and tourists, to Charlotte Amalie for an extended festival that showcased the rich culture and heritage of the territory.
The six evenings of the carnival featured complimentary concerts at the Festival Village, initiated by a performance from Machel Montano. Following this, there were electrifying acts by KES the Band, Sizzla Kalonji, Patrice Roberts, Barrington Levy, Adam O, TeeJay, Spectrum Band, Temisha, and others. The highlight came on Saturday night when international star Shaggy enthralled the crowd with his classics like “It Wasn’t Me,” “Boombastic,” and “Angel.”
Both the Children’s and Adult Parade days saw participants dressed in vibrant, embellished costumes featuring jewels, feathers, and the traditional madras fabric, adding color and flair to the festivities.
“Every year, we want to bring the best experiences to the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands for carnival. We are extremely excited to continue growing our national celebrations and welcoming the world to experience them with us,” adds Ian Turnbull , U.S. Virgin Islands Director of Festivals.
With a 27% increase in attendance over the previous year and unprecedented turnout during April’s events, the USVI Department of Tourism and the Division of Festivals are at the forefront of revolutionizing carnival culture and tourism promotion in the Caribbean. The carnival spirit is set to continue, with the St. John Celebration slated to start in late June, promising another round of spectacular events just two months away.
