Feb. 13, 2004 – St. Croix's 33rd annual Agriculture and Food Fair opens Saturday and runs through Monday (the Presidents Day holiday) at the Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agriculture Complex in Estate Lower Love, better known as "the fairgrounds."
The theme this year is "Agriculture: An Open Door in 2004."
The event has become the third-biggest draw in the territory in terms of attendance — after V.I. Carnival and the Crucian Christmas Festival. It's is anticipated that more than 30,000 people will visit the 2004 fair.
Fair hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Opening ceremonies are set for at 10 a.m. Saturday with a tribute to Eric "Larry" Bough, former assistant Agriculture commissioner, the honoree for this year's fair. More than a hundred vendors will display and sell crafts, food and drink, fresh produce, ornamental plants and more.
Fairgoers can spend time visiting:
– The Farmers Market, where fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, ornamental plants, fruit trees and other kinds of native plants are sold.
– The Livestock Pavilion, where farmers display their cattle, goats, sheep and other farm animals.
– The Food Pavilion, where well-known local cooks will be serving native foods and drinks.
Entertainment and event highlights of the fair include local bands and dance groups; amusement park rides; a youth cake/bake competition; 4-H groom squad and small animal showmanship judging; horseback, donkey cart and pony rides; a natural horsemanship demonstration; and fish feedings. Admission is $3 for senior citizens, $2 for children and $5 for everyone else.
Meanwhile, on Saturday from 7:30 p.m. until, right next door to the fairgrounds, the St. Croix Blues and Heritage Festival will present gospel/R&B singer Mavis Staples and blues artists Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers, Deborah Coleman and the Thrillseekers and Wendy DeWitt.
Here's the latest available lineup of events for the Agriculture and Food Fair. For more information, call 692-4060 or 778-0991.
Saturday
10 a.m. – noon — Opening ceremonies, Francellia Benjamin and the St. Croix Educational Complex Chorus
Big Tent:
1-2:30 p.m. — Fair Wear Fashion Extravaganza
3-6 p.m. — Dancehall and Free Style Competition
East Stage:
Noon-3 p.m. — Lashing Dogs
3-6 p.m. — Stanley and the 10 Sleepless Knights
3:30-4 p.m. — St. Croix Heritage Dancers
Middle Stage:
Noon-3 p.m. — Oreo Steelband
3-6 p.m. — Gravity Band
Sunday
Big Tent:
10-1 p.m. — Caribbean gospel program
2-6 p.m. — Xpress Band
3-4 p.m. — Junior Calypso Show
4-5 p.m. — Senior Calypso Show
East Stage:
9 a.m.-noon — D.J. Myron
Noon-3 p.m. — Native Rhythm Band
3-6 p.m. — Digital Band
Middle Stage:
Noon-3 p.m. — Pandemonics steelband
3-6 p.m. — Ricardo Richards Pan Connection
Monday
Big Tent:
Noon-3 p.m. — Xtaushan band
3-6 p.m. — Star Lion Family
East Stage:
9 a.m.-noon — DJ Myron
Noon-3 p.m. — Jamesie & Friends
1-1:30 p.m. — West End Masqueraders
3-6 p.m. — St. Croix Education Complex Fusion Band
Middle Stage:
Noon-3 p.m. — Noel band
3-6 p.m. — Dem Boys Band
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