Drums pounded, flags waved and onlookers cheered as the Crucian Christmas Carnival kicked off Saturday with the fourth annual Mini Carnival at the Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged.
The Grigg Home and grounds were transformed into a mini Crucian Christmas Carnival, with vendors, food, live music and a parade. Santa Claus made an appearance, riding on a large V.I. Fire Service truck.
Two large tents shaded the audience as a mini parade opened the program, led by Grand Marshals Leonilda Rivera and Victor Sanes, two residents of the home. Following groups included the Alexander A. Richards Junior High School Majorettes, the Alfredo Andrews Elementary Quadrille group, and the St. Croix Educational Complex Marching Band, marching around the parking lot to the delight of the audience.
Ana C. Velez-Martinez, executive director of Herbert Grigg Home, greeted the crowd on the steps of the home, mentioning the purpose and beginning of the mini carnival.
“Most of the residents are not able to go out and see the main parade so we brought carnival here," she said. "Four years ago it was actually started by the past director, Vera Falu. Her dream was to bring carnival, but she retired before it happened, and when I became director I said we are going to make this happen and it has been four years since.”
The Miss Pearl of Herbert Grigg contest was a new feature added to the mini-carnival this year. The contestants for Miss Pearl were four staffers at the home vying for the title. The Miss Pearl contest was also a fundraiser for the facility.
Contestant Coanne Brereton-Hassell called the contest “a fun way of generating funds to help the home for the aged."
"It is innovative, just for fun” Brereton-Hassell said. It is also "an added achievement for me to be able to go out in the public and get donations for the help of those that could be your parents or grandparents that will eventually come to the home for care.”
Local favorites Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights performed, along with the JG Modeling Agency, the Alfredo Andrews Elementary Quadrille group and modern dance group, Tuskani, La Fuerza band, Dancing Beauties, Lehmari Isle, the Kulie Band, and Ja’Herah Chelcher.
Musical icon Stanley Jacobs of Stanley of the Ten Sleepless Knights, a one-time employee of the home, has been bringing music and merriment to the residents since the 1960s.
“I used to work here in the ’60s, I used to get them to play music. I learned the flute here, too. Every weekend it had a party, it is like I am coming back home, the only things is it is bigger now with plenty more people” Jacobs said.
Children were able to take pictures with Santa Claus while the festivities continued. Those in the audience mingled with residents and others as the various entertainers performed on the lawn, now transformed into a professional music stage.
“I am here celebrating Christmas with the senior citizens of the Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged” said Sen. Sammuel Sanes. Viewing the mixed age group in the crowd “it is not the elderly that are enjoying it but we have children here, we have parents, sons and daughters, everyone is enjoying the festivities” said Sanes.
The Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged is a V.I. government facility operated under the Department of Human Services. It offers 24-hour live-in care for the elderly. The 40 resident at the facility receive such services as on-site medical staff and such activities as social recreation, outing parties and church services.
