Hello, and happy Monday! I apologize that I have been absent for several days. Dalton and I have been traveling, and I am just able to catch up on things. 🙂
I have been getting lots of questions regarding St. John’s annual carnival celebration, specifically how it will affect the island. People are curious if roads will be closed, if town will be shut down, etc. So today, I will do my best to explain all of this for you.
What is St. John Celebrating?
Denmark controlled St. John from 1718 through 1917. That’s when the United States of America purchased St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix for $25 million in gold. When Denmark ruled the island, they operated numerous sugar plantations that were located throughout St. John. The people of Denmark who settled on St. John brought enslaved people from the west coast of Africa (now Ghana) to work those plantations.
The enslaved people were emancipated on July 3, 1848. St. John’s annual carnival celebrates the end of slavery.
The Fourth of July
July 4, 1848 was the first morning of freedom. That is why it is celebrated so strongly here in the US Virgin Islands. Yes, it celebrates independence, but we are not celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. We are celebrating freedom.
J’ouvert
J’ouvert – pronounced joo-vay – is a pre-dawn street festival. On St. John, it celebrates the first sunrise of freedom. The name comes from the French phrase “jour ouvert,” meaning “daybreak”. This year’s j’ouvert festival will take place on Thursday, July 3rd from sunrise – 5:47 a.m. – and will continue until about 10 a.m. I do not believe that the streets will officially close for this event, but it could happen briefly. They will definitely be filled with people during this event.
The Parade on July 4th
The parade is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., but it typically does not start on time. There are significant road closures for the parade. The road in front of Mongoose Junction to the Post Office will be closed. The road in front of the customs lot that leads to the ferry dock will be closed. The road between Slim’s parking lot and Wharfside Village will be closed. The small one-way beside Cruz Bay Landing will be closed. The road in front of Woody’s and up to the roundabout will be closed. The parade can last for several hours, so expect long road closures.
If you are visiting St. John and would like to go to the beaches on July 4th, you will have to take Centerline Road to either Highway 206, which is the road through Catherineberg, or to Colombo’s where you can head down to North Shore Road and the beaches that way. The Catherineberg Road ends between Peter Bay and Cinnamon Bay. The road near Colombo’s is closer to Maho and Francis.
The Village
The Village is set up in the customs parking lot in Cruz Bay. There are numerous food and beverage buildings set up, which have pretty delicious items for sale. This is where the music will be. The Village opens at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 29th. One thing to keep in mind- if you are staying in Cruz Bay, the music is loud and goes late. If you do not plan on partaking, bring a pair of ear plugs. The sound reverberates throughout Cruz Bay, especially the bass. The Village is open through July 4th.
Here is the full lineup:
Food Fair & Pan-O-Rama
This takes place next Saturday, June 28th. The street in front of the ferry dock will be closed, and numerous vendors will be offering local foods and drinks for sale. There will be music here too. It’s a fun, albeit hot, street party. I absolutely love food fair. It starts at noon.
Pan-O-Rama is an event that features St. John’s Pan Dragons. This is a group of residents of all ages who plan steel pan drums. They are absolutely incredible, so be sure to check them out. They will play at 5:30 p.m. in The Village, according to the schedule.
Fireworks
This will take place at 9 p.m. on July 4th over Cruz Bay.
Are you looking to purchase a home, condo, land or a business here in St. John? I would love to help you! Looking to list your property? I can help you with that too! I, Jenn Manes, am a licensed real estate agent with 340 Real Estate Co., and I would love to help you with your buying and selling needs in the US Virgin Islands. Please contact me at 203-376-3786 or jenn@explorestj.com to explore the possibilities.
