Carnival returns to St. John on June 26 with a packed calendar of parades and parties Photo Credit USVI Tourism

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS UNVEIL THE ST. JOHN CARNIVAL LINEUP

Carnival in St. John Heats Up the Island With Parades, Steel Pan and Parties

ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (June 2022) It’s party time in St. John with the lineup announcement from The U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Festivals for the 68^th annual St. John Carnival. Also known as the St. John Celebration, the second of the three annual Carnivals among the major islands of the USVI will take place from June 26-July 4, 2022. After scaling back events in 2020 and 2021, St. John is proud to bring back the festivities in person from steel pan and parades to street parties and pageants following the success of the St. Thomas Carnival this past April. Locals and visitors alike will gather around Cruz Bay for the majority of the events. Participants and spectators can expect traditional food and vendors, calypso and soca music, dancing, mas parades, and more. Ian Turnbull, Director of the Division of Festivals, said, “Being able to host the St. John Celebration and Emancipation Day this year is an exciting testament to how far we’ve come, and it signals a liberation from the pandemic much as it does from the historic oppression that July 3 and 4 represent.”

Music and dancing in full bloom during the St. John Carnival Photo Credit @visitusvi

U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is excited to share the main schedule as follows:

June 26: Pan-O-Rama, a pre-Carnival steel pan celebration; Food Fair featuring local vendors
June 30: Village Opens with more than 18 local vendor booths of food, drinks, family-friendly day events, and nightly performances
July 2: J’ouvert, the pre-dawn celebration
July 3: Emancipation Day Cultural Program
July 4: Parade Day and Fireworks

U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism, Joseph Boschulte, said, “The U.S. Virgin Islands is the only territory in the Caribbean with three Carnival celebrations annually. St. Thomas was a step in the right direction to return to pre-pandemic levels and we look forward to celebrating with our locals and returning visitors again.”The Carnival celebrations on St. John dates back to the early 20th century and is a mix of African, European, and Caribbean traditions. In St. John, Carnival takes place during Emancipation Day, a local holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery, and 4th of July/Independence Day, the U.S. holiday commemorating independence. In 1960, the 4th of July celebrations on St. John evolved into Carnival and the festival lasted more than a week.

It’s party time in St. John with pageants, parades and Carnival street parties Photo Credit @visitusvi

In between events, locals and visitors can enjoy the beauty that is St. John. Just a quick ferry ride from St. Thomas, St. John is easily accessible by visitors to the main cruise port. St. John is the smallest of the three islands made up of a two-thirds protected National Park with 9,500 acres of rolling green hills and an underwater reserve. This tranquil world can be explored on more than 20 self-guided hiking trails or by snorkeling or diving in its fish and coral-filled waters. The island also boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches including Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay. The main towns are Cruz Bay with shops and restaurants, and quaint Coral Bay.

For more information on the U.S. Virgin Islands, visit www.visitusvi.com and visit the festival page here.

St. John Carnival starts on June 26 with a celebration of steel pan music called Pan-O-Rama Photo Credit @visitusvi

About the U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands is an official U.S. territory in the Caribbean that consist of three individual islands – St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas. Perfect for leisure or business travel, the U.S. Virgin Islands are rich with culture, history, and surrounded by breathtaking beaches. When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens can enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel as no passport is required for U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the United States. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are equivalent to entering the United States from any international country. Upon departure, a passport is required for non-U.S. citizens. For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI).