Some people can’t wait for the holidays to be over so they can have a break from parties and celebration, but not on St. Croix! Our St. Croix Christmas Festival, also known as Carnival, started on December 26 and culminates with the Children’s and Adult Parades and closing night at the Village with fireworks.

The parades are an opportunity to see many cultural island traditions. Troupes dress in colorful, feathery handcrafted costumes and dance through the streets. Majorettes twirl batons and march along the parade route to the sounds of festive music. The St. Croix Festival Queen and her court are escorted in convertibles while adorned in bejeweled crowns and elegant dresses. Steel pan bands on double-decker trucks fill Frederiksted with island favorites. Mocko jumbies are decked out in their finest cultural attire.

Expect to make a day of the Adult Parade. The start time is 10am, but we are on island time (some groups place friendly wagers on when the actual start time will be). Of course, you’ll also want to get there a little early to scope out the perfect spot along the route. Take into consideration where the sun will be a various points during the day and be sure to bring sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.).

For a Perfect Day on St. Croix, visit the Carnival Village for local treats and stick around for the fireworks at 8pm.

Check out the Virgin Islands Carnival Schedules for dates and times, and the Crucian Christmas Festival Facebook page for photos of past festivals and updates.

Photo courtesy of Parasail Virgin Islands

There’s no question, St. Croix is a beautiful place filled with many perfect days. Imagine if you could see it from a completely different perspective — from 350 feet up in the air. Parasail Virgin Islands is back on St. Croix on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through February. If you’re a thrill-seeker, parasailing should definitely be part of your Perfect Day on St. Croix.

Parasail Virgin Islands has a unique winch boat that allows you to take off and land directly on the boat. A 600 foot tow line will put you about 350 feet in the air. By request, you can do a touch ‘n go where they slow down and touch your toes in the water.

The whole parasailing trip lasts about an hour, with you flight being 8-10 minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time for more adventures during your Perfect Day.

For another unique perspective of the island, hop on the ferry over to Hotel on the Cay. The view looking across the water at Christiansted and Fort Christiansvaern will give you a new appreciation for the quaint town.

Hotel on the Cay has a beach barbecue every day from 11am-4:30pm and The Beach Bar is a great place to hang out. Sometimes they have live music and they do trivia on Wednesday evenings. There is also a watersports shack where you can rent snorkel gear, kayaks and other gear, or sign up for a tour. The ferry to/from Hotel on the Cay is $5.

Even if you’re not on a cruise, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all of the energy of cruise ship day. Vendors line Strand Street in Frederiksted, making it a great time to find gifts from local artisans. You’ll also find several shops and eateries throughout town.

We recommend getting a coffee from Polly’s at the Pier and finding a park bench near the clock tower for some people watching. You may even see a mocko jumbie or two! Often times there will be live music from the gazebo, setting the tone for tourists as they step foot on St. Croix.

As you meander through the street vendors, you’ll find handmade arts and crafts, jewelry, food items, clothing, ceramics and more, as well as souvenirs like t-shirts and hats.

The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts is also located on Strand Street and has undergone renovations. In addition to the downstairs gallery, explore the upstairs galleries showcasing regional artists. The gift shop has a variety of handmade items for sale. There is even a nice courtyard in the back where you can enjoy a cold drink and free WIFI.

Dive shops and boutiques offer a relaxed shopping environment, while restaurants and bars feed off the energy that the cruise ships brings to town. Be sure to all the way down Strand Street to check out The Fred, St. Croix’s newest boutique hotel, as well as the nearby restaurants. You might even decide to rent snorkel gear from a dive shop and take in some underwater scenery in Frederiksted.

It’s also a great opportunity to tour Fort Frederik, which is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, and pay homage to the Emancipation Monument.

Check out the 2018-19 Cruise Ship Schedule for the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility at the Frederiksted Pier.

If you’re visiting St. Croix during a weekend between September and March, we highly recommend that one of your Perfect Days include a visit to Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is open Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, but closed during peak sea turtle nesting season (April through August). The beach is a critical nesting habitat for leatherback, green and hawksbill seat turtles, which is why it closes during peak nesting season.

Fun Fact: Sandy Point has the longest continuous beach in the USVI

Sandy Point is a two-mile stretch of sandy beach, comprised of 383 acres, on the southwest corner of St. Croix. There are a variety of activities to be done, including hiking, wildlife observation, nature photography, hanging out on the pristine beach, and swimming in the crystal clear water. Birders will delight as there have been more than 100 species of birds documented in the woodland, mangrove, salt pond and beach habitats.

There are no amenities or shade at Sandy Point, so plan accordingly. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and maybe even a picnic lunch. Given that the area is known for turtle nesting, pick up lunch from Turtle’s Deli (Saturday only) in Frederiksted — it will be one of the very best deli sandwiches you’ve had in your life!

Fun Fact: The last scene of The Shawshank Redemption was filmed at Sandy Point

Note that if you spend time on the beach there are no umbrellas, tents or chairs allowed because there of the risk of disturbing a sea turtle eggs beneath the surface of the sand.

Head to Louie & Nacho’s in Frederiksted for cocktails and tacos after Sandy Point closes. Their balcony offers the perfect view of a breathtaking Caribbean sunset.

Smoke STX

There’s a new barbecue place on St. Croix that everyone is talking about! Smoke STX BBQ & Bottle Shop has a mouthwatering menu complete with starters, sandwiches, plates, sides and desserts — even including some vegan options.

A few things that stand out on their menu are the BLT (you’ll see why in a second), Three Day Ribs, Smoked Meatloaf, Mahi, and Chili (with a vegan option). Smoke makes their own special sauces — Original Honey Spice, Carolina Mustard, Shenandoah Red or Hellfire — three of which are Chef Joe’s secret recipes and one passed down from family. And, get this, they make their own bacon and sell it by the pound.

Owned by Joe Smith and Brian “Monty” Montgomery, Smoke STX is located in Frederiksted in the Louie & Nachos complex and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am- 9pm. They’re currently working on seating, but their carryout BBQ and bottles are perfect for the beach.

CoralFire

And where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Though it can’t be on the same day as experiencing Smoke, we definitely think you should make time to see CoralFire at The Mermaid at The Buccaneer Resort on a Monday evening (starts at 7pm). They put on a spectacular fire dancing show using various contraptions, like twin hoops, dragon staff, fire poi, fire fans, and a flaming parasol.

CoralFire also performs at special events, including the upcoming Slow Down Dinner at Ridge to Reef Farm on September 9. Or you can hire them for a private show to suit your own theme, from jazz and flapper to rockabilly or swing, electronic or hip hop, reggae or Latin — they even have characters for kid’s parties, like Alice in Wonderland and princesses.

If you’re interested in learning their art, CoralFire offers private workshops and they are hosting the CoralFire Flow Arts & Yoga Retreat on St. Croix in November.