What to do During St. Thomas Carnival

It's that time of year again. That time where everyone gets dressed up, parades down the street and dance their you know what's off. That's right... Carnival time! Locals, tourists, kids, adults, pretty much everyone flocks to Charlotte Amalie to join in the celebration. 

If you are curious as to what there is to do during Carnival, check out the list I have put together!

1. The Pageants

The pageants are one of the first events during Carnival. They have two major pageants; Queen and Prince and Princess. The Queen Selection Show has contestants between ages 16-21 years old and is the most prestigious and highly competitive show. Once passed down the crown from the previous queen, they are officially representing St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands. The Princess Selection show features younger contestants, ages 6 to 12 years old, and is a little more laid back than the Queen Selection Show, but still is fun for the participates and viewers.

2. Live Music 

Having fun, dancing, and listening to great live music is what Carnival is all about. There are so many different bands and other live music you can catch all throughout the month of Carnival!

3. The Food 

There’s no question that Carnival has some of the best island food around. I can almost guarantee you’ll leave feeling stuffed! They offer food like fried fish, Johnnycakes, different kinds of pates, and much more! You’re just going to have to see for yourself. Make sure you check out the food fair too. It’s a daylong celebration of island food broken down into different booths.

4. The Village

The Village is the hub of the Carnival and is much anticipated by locals and tourists alike. This week long venue is kicked off by the ribbon cutting ceremony done by the Governor, the Carnival Queen, and sometimes the honoree. The Late Cleve "Grapo" Turnbull is 2015's honoree. He was chosen for his hard work and dedication to the previous carnivals and his amazing artistic ability. 

The Village is never short of things to do. Dance to live music, eat and drink awesome local food, and enjoy classic carnival games and rides!

5. Parades

The parades during carnival are one of the most planned out events. There are number of parades, J’ouvert, the adults parade, and the children’s parade. J’ouvert is one of the most popular events during Carnival! Thousands show up in the early morning and dance down Main Street to their favorite music. 

The adult’s parade is another crowd favorite. This takes about a year in advance to plan and organize due to thinking up a theme, making elaborate costumes, and gathering trope members. There are small troupes, with as little as 10 members, and there are also very large troupes with hundreds of members. 

The Children’s parade is similar to the adult’s parade, but the participants ranging from toddlers to teens. They also dress up in fun, colorful costumes and dance their hearts out down Main Street. 

6. Fireworks 
Fireworks are a great ending to any event. This amazing display happens over St. Thomas Harbor and there are so many great spots on the island to get a great view.

There is just so much to do and see during Carnival. There are so many traditions carried on throughout the years, and some added on along the way. To read about the history of Carnival, click on the link below.

 History of St. Thomas Carnival

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