USVI-On-Line

The beach and going into town that night for the food and fireworks, sounds like our plan. Our youngest has her birthday on the 4th.

Can one drive through Cruz Bay easily around 8:00am on July 4th? I see Jouvert starts at 4:00am.

Hey Jimm,

Just had to comment on your avatar and say that you have a wonderful aquarium! Those soft coral look REALLY happy! How many gallons? I worked at a full service aquarium shop through high school and have always wanted to convert my 60 gallon salt tank to a 70 gallon tall reef tank.

-VayCay

This is such a timely post for me since we will be there for the 4th (in just a few weeks!!). We will be taking 2 new families and we have thought about what to do on this day. At first I thouhgt - it would be a great beach day and it is our last. But then those pictures from 2006 are so awesome that I might want to see the parade. We will have 7 kids in tow and I don't know if they'll want to sit there that long. My dilemna continues....

VayCay wrote:Hey Jimm,

Just had to comment on your avatar and say that you have a wonderful aquarium! Those soft coral look REALLY happy! How many gallons? I worked at a full service aquarium shop through high school and have always wanted to convert my 60 gallon salt tank to a 70 gallon tall reef tank.

-VayCay

It was a 90 gallon tall. I say was because a few years ago I decided to stop the hobby as it started taking too much of my spare time to make sure the corals were happy. I do miss it from time to time. Now I just see the corals up close and personal when diving or snorkeling.

Jimm wrote:Can one drive through Cruz Bay easily around 8:00am on July 4th? I see Jouvert starts at 4:00am.

You should be fine at 8--you'd be able to get through until the parade actually starts (anybody's guess on that)!

We'll be on island over the 4th this year also. I'm all for going to the beach and into town later that night. One question, what exactly is Jouvert (sp?) and why is it at 4:00 AM?

Shari wrote:We'll be on island over the 4th this year also. I'm all for going to the beach and into town later that night. One question, what exactly is Jouvert (sp?) and why is it at 4:00 AM?

I think Jouvert is partying in the streets and music. Not sure why they start it before sunrise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jouvert

According to the St. John USVI Tourism calendar of events for July they have Jouvert scheduled to start at 4:00AM. I don't think you'll see my butt up at that hour.
http://www.usvitourism.vi/en/stjohn/sj_ ... lendar.asp

Jimm wrote:
I think Jouvert is partying in the streets and music. Not sure why they start it before sunrise

J'Ouvert starts before sunrise because it is the custom. Maybe, before it becomes too hot. J'Ouvert is dancing in the streets behind bands that are on flat bed trucks. It is a lot of fun!!!! You don't got to bed the night of J'Ouvert you party in the Carnival village than join in J"Ouvert when it starts.

I could be wrong but I believe that the reason it starts before sunrise is to make sure that all the bad jumbies are scared out of town before the Carnival Festival.
The loud music and dancing is a joyful way of telling the bad spirits to move on while Carnival is celebrated.

I did it once and it was so much fun. Went home after work and got in a good nap and headed into town about midnight. Most all the bars are open and everyone is happy to just walk around town and chat. Once Jam Band comes through town on the flatbed and you spend an hour dancing in the streets, it was time for bed for a few hours and then back into town for the parade.
It took me 2 days to recover, but it was a blast and I am so happy that I experienced it.