Festivals of the US Virgin Islands You Cannot Miss

Festivals of the US Virgin Islands You Cannot Miss

The US Virgin Islands are some of the most beautiful places you could ever visit in their lifetime. This group of Caribbean islands and islets are timeless tourist destinations known and loved for their white-sand beaches, gorgeous reefs, luscious hills, and of course, Carnival!

And here’s the best part: U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to travel to the Islands! That’s right, as long as you are American, you can enjoy that Caribbean paradise vacation you’ve longed for.

The U.S. Virgin Islands has three main carnival celebrations each year. While there is a lot to experience on the island, from shopping, dining, and endless entertainment options, these festivals are the most significant cultural events hosted by the islands.

The Festivals

You surely can’t miss Carnival in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the love of colorful costumes, mouthwatering local cuisine, and vibrant music. Plan your next trip to the U.S Virgin Islands to celebrate VI Carnival on St. Thomas in April/May, the St. Jon Festival in June/July, or the Crucian Christmas Festival on St. Croix in December/January.

VI Carnival in St. Thomas

The VI Carnival in St. Thomas is an eventful month-long event that begins with pageants and calypso shows and climaxes with the J’ouvert in the last week, an epic street party featuring lively calypso bands and colorfully dressed costumed dancers. Typically, all the carnival events are held in April. However, the celebration can sometimes carry on into the first week of May.

About the Island

St. Thomas’s scenery is a beautiful blend of its historical past and its lively present. The island hosts Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and a city known for hosting many of St. Thomas’s activities.

The St. John Festival 

The St. John Festival is the biggest cultural event hosted by the island. The Festival comprises pageants, food fairs, a parade, musical performances, a festival village, historical presentations inspired by Emancipation, and many other celebrations.

About the Island

Rarely anybody who visits St John only ever visits once. Fondly nicknamed “Love City,” many island visitors report being enchanted by their first trip. There’s no beach that isn’t a great place to visit. The island also boasts fantastic natural landscapes with hiking trails in forests, historical sugar plantation ruins, salt ponds, towering hills, and sloping valleys.

And, of course, there are plenty of other activities to keep you busy, including snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, dining, and beholding the beauty of the 7,000-acre National Park.

The Crucian Christmas Festival St. Croix

St. Croix’s Crucian Christmas Festival is hosted between December and January, the perfect celebration to have fun at Christmas and New Year. The Festival and its events are hosted in Christiansted and Frederiksted, the island’s two main towns. The Festival’s activities include Latin music venues, food fairs, horse races, parades, and calypso shows.

About the Island

Sometimes referred to simply as the “Big Island,” St. Croix is the largest island of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is home to over 53,000 residents. Once the sugar-producing giant of the Caribbean, today, St. Croix offers visitors sweet adventures through its National Parks, including Salt River, home to a diverse ecosystem that decorates pre-historic ruins, Buck Island’s enchanting marine garden and Sandy Point’s sea turtles, and Jack and Isaac Bays.

St. Croix is full of fun activities to keep you occupied throughout your stay, including water sports like snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, and boating or land activities like gold, island tours, scenic forest walks, outdoor jazz concerts and fine dining, shopping or crab racing at a local bar.

Ready to Visit the U.S Virgin Islands?

Residents and visitors alike spend several months planning for and anticipating these unique events. So whether you are celebrating spring and summer, taking a winter break, or just in the mood to party, the Virgin Islands have something for everybody.

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For more details to help you plan your trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands, check out Visit USVI to learn more about America’s Caribbean Paradise.