First USVI Shopping Festival Takes Place in July
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:55 am
Between July 24 and August 1, the Department of Tourism will turn the spotlight on Charlotte Amalie for the first ever USVI Shopping Festival designed to showcase Charlotte Amalie as a prime shopping destination and stimulate economic activity in the downtown area. Developing the Shopping Festival is one of the first steps in a long-term plan to ensure Charlotte Amalie maintains and enhances its appeal as the shopping capital of the Caribbean.
During the 9-day festival, many stores in and around Charlotte Amalie will remain open until 7 p.m., while local venues and organizations will host free events, like "Christmas in July" at Yacht Haven Grande, historical walking tours, and performances at Emancipation Garden and Market Square. Events span the entire downtown district from Crown Bay to Havensight highlighting the many shopping centers and areas of commerce within Charlotte Amalie. The Department of Tourism invites all residents to patronize the downtown area to indulge in the extended shopping hours, tours, dining, music and entertainment offered throughout the festival.
Concerts featuring local and regional artists alongside international headliners will be the highlight of the week. The concert line-up includes reggae legend Wyclef Jean and Big Mountain, international R&B/soul singer Chrisette Michele, Grammy-nominated meringue artist Bonny Cepeda and local acts with international acclaim, including jazz artist Dion Parson and hip hop duo R. City. A full schedule of the week's events is included below.
In order to coordinate the 9-day festival, the Department of Tourism is partnering with a number of local organizations including the VI Cultural Heritage Institute and the St. Thomas/ St. John Chamber of Commerce to train high school students to conduct the historical walking tours. Over the past several weeks, twelve students have participated in intensive training and are presently conducting practice tours in preparation for the Festival. The Department is also partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to develop a shopping coupon booklet and gain the participation of local merchants during the event. Other key partners include the VI Taxi Association which will operate a shopping shuttle, Fat Turtle, Yacht Haven Grande, WICO, Crown Bay Center and Palm Passage which will all host entertainment and other events.
Shopping Promotion
"We are very pleased that through our collaboration with on-island partners we've been able to put together a full schedule of activities that will showcase St. Thomas as the leading shopping destination in the Caribbean and help boost the local economy during the typically soft summer season," said Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty. "We encourage the local community to take advantage of the great savings retailers will be offering and support our local restaurants, artists and organizations by attending the concerts and free events taking place during the Festival," she said.
To promote the festival, the Department implemented a targeted advertising campaign to rejuvenate awareness among potential visitors and shopping enthusiasts that St. Thomas remains a premier travel destination. The DOT also hosted its first-ever Twitter sweepstakes, which ran from June 28 - July 11 and awarded one lucky Twitter follower with a free USVI Shopping Festival trip for two.
With the USVI Shopping Festival only a day away, the Department of Tourism is already thinking of ways to expand the festival for next year. "We believe this event has a lot of potential not only to enhance the reputation of Charlotte Amalie and attract more visitors, but also to improve the downtown experience for all patrons," said Nicholson-Doty. "Eventually we would like to see the revitalization of nightlife in the downtown area that would include extended shopping hours, nightly entertainment, and other activities that would create a livelier atmosphere for all to enjoy."
USVI Shopping Festival Schedule of Events
Please note: Downtown stores open until 7 p.m.
July 26 - 30, All events are free except where noted.
Concert ticket prices:
Purchased in advance: $25 per show; $65 all three shows, Purchased at the gate: $50
VIP seating: $40 per show; $100 all three shows
Concert tickets are available for purchase at Fat Turtle, at various locations at Yacht Haven Grande, Urban Threadz locations on St. Thomas and St. Croix, Caribbean Surf Club (all locations) and at Connections on St. John.
Saturday, July 24th
2:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Christmas in July including visit from Santa at Yacht Haven Grande
7:00 - 11:00 p.m. - Full Moon Jazz on the Green, W!kked at Yacht Haven Grande
Sunday, July 25th
1 - 3 p.m. - Carnival Extravaganza featuring Spectrum Band at Crown Bay Center
7 p.m. - Concert at Yacht Haven Grande featuring R. City and Wyclef Jean
Monday, July 26th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
5 - 8 p.m. - Classical Guitar with James Anderson & 20 minute portraits with Portrait Artist, Ahmed Alarefi at Palm Passage
Tuesday, July 27th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
4 - 6 p.m. - Carnival Extravaganza Featuring Cool Sessions Band at Havensight Mall
7 - 10 p.m. - Andy Easton & Friends at Yacht Haven Grande
Wednesday, July 28th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
5:30 - 7 p.m. - Wine with Your Pet - How 'Bout Your Pet at Yacht Haven Grande
6/6:30/7/7:30 p.m. - Flights of Fire Shows a Palm Passage
Thursday, July 29th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
7 p.m. - Concert at Yacht Haven Grande featuring Dion Parson, 21st Century Band and Chrisette Michele
Friday, July 30th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
5 p.m. - Mango Tango Seaside Art Gallery "Sweet Dreams" Rum Punch & Music at Yacht Haven Grande
5:30 p.m. - Wine Tasting ($25/person) and Art Opening at Gallery St. Thomas featuring local artist David Hill at Palm Passage
Saturday, July 31st
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
4 p.m. - Concert at Yacht Haven Grande featuring Bonny Cepeda and Big Mountain
During the 9-day festival, many stores in and around Charlotte Amalie will remain open until 7 p.m., while local venues and organizations will host free events, like "Christmas in July" at Yacht Haven Grande, historical walking tours, and performances at Emancipation Garden and Market Square. Events span the entire downtown district from Crown Bay to Havensight highlighting the many shopping centers and areas of commerce within Charlotte Amalie. The Department of Tourism invites all residents to patronize the downtown area to indulge in the extended shopping hours, tours, dining, music and entertainment offered throughout the festival.
Concerts featuring local and regional artists alongside international headliners will be the highlight of the week. The concert line-up includes reggae legend Wyclef Jean and Big Mountain, international R&B/soul singer Chrisette Michele, Grammy-nominated meringue artist Bonny Cepeda and local acts with international acclaim, including jazz artist Dion Parson and hip hop duo R. City. A full schedule of the week's events is included below.
In order to coordinate the 9-day festival, the Department of Tourism is partnering with a number of local organizations including the VI Cultural Heritage Institute and the St. Thomas/ St. John Chamber of Commerce to train high school students to conduct the historical walking tours. Over the past several weeks, twelve students have participated in intensive training and are presently conducting practice tours in preparation for the Festival. The Department is also partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to develop a shopping coupon booklet and gain the participation of local merchants during the event. Other key partners include the VI Taxi Association which will operate a shopping shuttle, Fat Turtle, Yacht Haven Grande, WICO, Crown Bay Center and Palm Passage which will all host entertainment and other events.
Shopping Promotion
"We are very pleased that through our collaboration with on-island partners we've been able to put together a full schedule of activities that will showcase St. Thomas as the leading shopping destination in the Caribbean and help boost the local economy during the typically soft summer season," said Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty. "We encourage the local community to take advantage of the great savings retailers will be offering and support our local restaurants, artists and organizations by attending the concerts and free events taking place during the Festival," she said.
To promote the festival, the Department implemented a targeted advertising campaign to rejuvenate awareness among potential visitors and shopping enthusiasts that St. Thomas remains a premier travel destination. The DOT also hosted its first-ever Twitter sweepstakes, which ran from June 28 - July 11 and awarded one lucky Twitter follower with a free USVI Shopping Festival trip for two.
With the USVI Shopping Festival only a day away, the Department of Tourism is already thinking of ways to expand the festival for next year. "We believe this event has a lot of potential not only to enhance the reputation of Charlotte Amalie and attract more visitors, but also to improve the downtown experience for all patrons," said Nicholson-Doty. "Eventually we would like to see the revitalization of nightlife in the downtown area that would include extended shopping hours, nightly entertainment, and other activities that would create a livelier atmosphere for all to enjoy."
USVI Shopping Festival Schedule of Events
Please note: Downtown stores open until 7 p.m.
July 26 - 30, All events are free except where noted.
Concert ticket prices:
Purchased in advance: $25 per show; $65 all three shows, Purchased at the gate: $50
VIP seating: $40 per show; $100 all three shows
Concert tickets are available for purchase at Fat Turtle, at various locations at Yacht Haven Grande, Urban Threadz locations on St. Thomas and St. Croix, Caribbean Surf Club (all locations) and at Connections on St. John.
Saturday, July 24th
2:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Christmas in July including visit from Santa at Yacht Haven Grande
7:00 - 11:00 p.m. - Full Moon Jazz on the Green, W!kked at Yacht Haven Grande
Sunday, July 25th
1 - 3 p.m. - Carnival Extravaganza featuring Spectrum Band at Crown Bay Center
7 p.m. - Concert at Yacht Haven Grande featuring R. City and Wyclef Jean
Monday, July 26th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
5 - 8 p.m. - Classical Guitar with James Anderson & 20 minute portraits with Portrait Artist, Ahmed Alarefi at Palm Passage
Tuesday, July 27th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
4 - 6 p.m. - Carnival Extravaganza Featuring Cool Sessions Band at Havensight Mall
7 - 10 p.m. - Andy Easton & Friends at Yacht Haven Grande
Wednesday, July 28th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
5:30 - 7 p.m. - Wine with Your Pet - How 'Bout Your Pet at Yacht Haven Grande
6/6:30/7/7:30 p.m. - Flights of Fire Shows a Palm Passage
Thursday, July 29th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
7 p.m. - Concert at Yacht Haven Grande featuring Dion Parson, 21st Century Band and Chrisette Michele
Friday, July 30th
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 noon - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
5 p.m. - Mango Tango Seaside Art Gallery "Sweet Dreams" Rum Punch & Music at Yacht Haven Grande
5:30 p.m. - Wine Tasting ($25/person) and Art Opening at Gallery St. Thomas featuring local artist David Hill at Palm Passage
Saturday, July 31st
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Historical Walking Tours - meet at Emancipation Garden
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Emancipation Garden
12 - 4 p.m. - Local Entertainment at Market Square
4 p.m. - Concert at Yacht Haven Grande featuring Bonny Cepeda and Big Mountain