USVI-On-Line

Hello helpful forumites. We are looking at dates for our 2009 trip and I have a few questions.

Our dates are looking to be in the vicinity of the 4th of July. Right now we are thinking of either arriving June 23 and leaving July 3 or arriving June 25 and leaving July 5.

I know that it might be problematic to get on and off the island on the 4th itself. How about the day before or after? Are we crazy to consider it?

Also, we aren't so into the crazy huge (possibly drunken) crowd thing and aren't sure what all "Carnival" entails. Its not that we are opposed to drunken crowds in principle (as a matter of fact when we can participate we're all for it) but we'll have two kids in tow and thus have to be responsible


Are we missing out by not going? If we're in STJ but on the Coral Bay side will it be pretty normal?

I think Carnival is fun. The parade is great, but long. And I think that the kids would just love it.

Carnival village is good early in the evening for yummy local food and drink. After 9, it can get rowdy but I am guessing with kids in tow, you would be in for the night by then.

I think that I would leave the day (or 2) after the 4th. The parade is a cool experience. Get to town early with your beach chairs and set up inder some shade. Bring a cooler with cold drinks and snacks and check it all out. The Mocko jumbies are awesome, the troupes have amazing costumes, and there are steel pan bands on flat bed trailers.

No problems, except for parking issues in Cruz Bay. It is more of a family event than a drunken event. I have been several times w/ my family and saw nothing terrible, but it can be crowded and we generally avoid the area. Coral Bay will allow you to avoid the crowds, but it really isn't an issue either way.

here are some pics I found of the parade in 2006

http://www.coralbaystjohn.com/Carnival06.htm

Xislandgirl wrote:After 9, it can get rowdy but I am guessing with kids in tow, you would be in for the night by then.

LOL ... without kids in tow I am usually in bed by 9 on STJ. I just can't keep myself up very late for some reason! I am a 11-12midnight girl at home!

THanks for the tips!

Just remember that the parade will start late!!! Seriously, bring shade and lots of water. My one time that I felt heat stroke coming on-island was at the July 4 parade. I think we parked on the school field and could not leave until the parade was finished.

Cheers, RickG

Question if you had to do it over
Beach or the parade? Would teens like?
Or skip and go in the evening for the food

shoemak38 wrote:Question if you had to do it over
Beach or the parade? Would teens like?
Or skip and go in the evening for the food

That's a hard question. For me, with July 4 on a Friday, it would depend on the weather and whether we were leaving to go home the next day. I would not trade my last beach day for the parade. But, its a very fun parade!

Cheers, RickG

that our problem it's our last day we go home on Saturday. Rick again you’ve given me good food for thought. Do any of the steel drum bands play at night?

What time does the parade start and any other festivities?

I'll add to RickG's good information.

The year we went to the parade, we were advised (possibly poorly) to get into town early in order to park, which we did. The parade then started at least 2 maybe 3 hours late so in total, we spent about 5 hours in town prior to seeing the parade.

We are glad we did it but it made for a very long day in town. It was HOT and crowded. The saving grace was a roving vendor selling ice cold Heinkens.

I take it it's impossible to park in lots from car rental places like Conrad's or St. John Car Rental on July 4th even if you’ve rented from them?

For general information:
Travel would not be impeded except on the 4th itself---traffic through Cruz Bay can be blocked not just during the parade but long afterwards, as the floats and trucks return to the ball field. Other areas of the island are not much affected.
A major problem with the parade that no one has mentioned is NOISE. The volume of music amplification can be very stressful to anyone sensitive to intense noise. Many people who live here avoid going to the parade in recent years because of this, even if they enjoy many of the other aspects of the festival.

Hi Flip-Flop!

Just want to tell that we were to the parade last year (thank you Xislandgirl for the link to photos, I really enjoy seeing them). For us it was so funny to see the parade, I wouldn’t have missed it, but it was also as told very hot, very crowded and very NOISY. We had to take a break at the beach near High Tide, where there was less noise (got the best painkiller we had on the trip, so it wasn’t bad). But if you choose to go, follow the advice about beach chairs, cooler and shadow, and if it’s possible bring earplugs too for the kids. And be aware that if you want to see the whole parade, it will take a long, long time. So you will be in a dilemma. If you find a place in the shadow you have to stay there for a long time to see it all, and if you move around you cannot be sure always to find places in the shadow. But it is a funny experience.!!

Linne

Hi

We were on St. John last year for the 4th and July and went to Trunk Bay that day. It was Great! We were sitting on Trunk Bay and at around 3:30 I looked around and there were ony 2 other people on the entire beach. So I would say go to the beach.

Kathy