Event Categories: Community Event, Cultural Events, Festivals, Island, Live Music, Party/Fete, and St.Thomas
- Profile
History of St. Thomas Carnival
It is the biggest party of the year, and each island has its own.
The first carnival was staged in 1912 during the final years of Danish occupation and lapsed during World War I. Revived in 1952; Carnival has become the second largest festival in the Caribbean. A month-long series of dazzling pageants and talent shows is 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, oftentimes 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 eats and a competition to crown the King and Queen of the parade troupes. The children’s and adult’s parade close the lively month with brilliantly costumed and decorated troupes and floats.
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For an in-depth look at St.Thomas Carnival 2017 and what not to miss, check out this fabulous post by St.Thomas’s very own Aslin Sauer.
Aslin is the owner of St.Thomas Food Tours and a regular contributing author to the WhatToDo-VI blog the VI Insider.
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