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June Heats Up with St. John Festival Activities

St. John’s monthlong Festival is heating up with activities planned from Friday through July 4.

“It’s a time to just relax. It’s time to party, socialize, have fun and let loose,” according to Festival Committee Chairwoman Leona Smith.

Activities move into gear Friday with a free Beach Jam at Cruz Bay Beach, which begins at 7 p.m. Spectrum Band will play and food and drink will be for sale. “Just come and enjoy yourself,” organizer Linda Williams said.

After a week-long break, the Senior Variety Show takes to the stage at Winston Wells ballfield at 7 p.m. on June 14. Organizer Jane Johannes said those attending will see models in swim suits and sportswear as well as maypole and quadrille dancing. There will also be a talent show, but Johannes wouldn’t say who would perform.

“You have to come and see,” she said.

Tickets to the Senior Variety Show run $15 in advance and are available at the Tourism Department office adjacent to the post office. Tickets are $20 at the door.

At 8 a.m. June 15, the Festival Bike Race starts at 8 a.m. at V.I. National Park.

Judges will pick the St. John princess at a pageant to be held at 6 p.m. June 15 at Winston Wells ballfield. Contestants are 8-year-old Shaquilla Lewis, a second-grader at Jane E. Tuitt School; 9-year-old K’Lah Jacobs, a Guy Benjamin School fourth-grader; 11-year-old Liliana Farrell, a Guy Benjamin fifth-grader; 10-year-old Cha’de Rhymer Brumant, a fifth-grader at Ulla Muller School; and 9-year-old Faith Marie Sweeney, an Ulla Muller fourth-grader.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets for children under 12 are $8. Tickets are available at Chelsea Drug Store and W&W Fast Food on St. John as well as International Records and Tapes and Eccentric Shoe Boutique on St. Thomas.

The Festival Musical Mix begins at 9 p.m. June 21 at Winston Wells ballfield.

Miss St. John will be chosen at a pageant to be held at 8 p.m. June 22 at Winston Wells ballfield. Contestants are 18-year-old Tyeefah Lynch, a Charlotte Amalie High School senior; 18-year-old Charisma Hypolite, a freshman at the University of the Virgin Islands; 18-year-old Monee’ Edwards, a UVI freshman; 18-year-old Torey Challenger, a senior at Eudora Kean High; and 19-year-old Khadijah Lee, a UVI freshman.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets for children under age 12 are $10. Tickets are available at Chelsea Drug Store and W&W Fast Food on St. John as well as International Records and Tapes and Eccentric Shoe Boutique on St. Thomas.

The queen will be crowned at the annual Food Fair, which will be held June 23 starting at 1 p.m. in Cruz Bay Park. The Food Fair honors Floresa Henley.

“She’s a dedicated community member and known for her pates,” Smith said, adding that Henley participated in every Food Fair held on St. John.

Boat races will be held starting at 3 p.m. June 23 in the waters off Cruz Bay.

“It’s another fun day,” according to organizer Glenville “Slim” Ross.

He said boats will race in two personal watercraft classes. Additionally there will be classes for boats with 35 to 50 horsepower, 150 to 200 horsepower, 225 to 250 horsepower, and 300 horsepower. The bigger boats will compete in the unlimited and offshore classes. Entry fees for the boat races range from $25 to $150 depending on class.

The Village opens at 7 p.m. June 28 in the V.I. Port Authority parking lot across from the post office. It will be named in honor of Stedwin Frett Sr.

“He was one of the first to have a booth, and you can always count on him to come out and help,” Smith said.

The Children’s Festival Village opens at 6 p.m. June 29 at the V.I. National Park bulkhead in Cruz Bay.

Here’s the lineup for the Village music:
– June 28, Cool Sessions Brass and El-A-Kru and Tizzy;
– June 29, Spectrum Band, Carimi and WCK;
– June 30, Volume and Pumpa and the Unit;
– July 1, Poizon and Daddy Jones;
– July 2, Xpress Band, Krosfyah, Gunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and Asylum Band;
– July 3, Spectrum Band, Kes the Band and Small Axe;
– July 4, Marsvyn David Band, Ah We Band, Cool Sessions Brass, Roy Cape featuring Benji, Denise Belfon and Patrice Roberts.

Activities wind down July 4 with J’ouvert set to begin at 4 a.m.; the parade through the streets of Cruz Bay at 11 a.m.; and the fireworks over Cruz Bay at 9 p.m.

This year’s parade marshal is James U. Boynes Sr. Smith said he donated his flatbed trucks for use in the parade as well as getting containers filled with Festival gear to St. John.

“He donated his time and service,” Smith said.

Editor’s note – An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect date for the opening of the Children’s Festival Village. The Source regrets the error.

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