St. John loves a parade

Who doesn't like a parade?  Certainly no St. Johnian eager to celebrate the 4th of July on the 5th. 

Despite temperatures pushing 90 degrees and rain that dampened parade goers but not their spirits, a good time was had by many.

The next-to-last St. John Festival event drew locals as well as visitors from St. Thomas. 

Colorful floats, or 'Troupes', included birds of paradise, messages to protect the environment, and reminders of the island's beauty.  Displays by both Caneel Bay and the Westin resorts mounted extravagant and multicolored costumed marchers and entertainers.

Stars of the parade were the Middle Aged Majorettes who, this year, put down their usual twirling batons in favor of t-shirts encouraging people to get cancer screenings.  Celia Kalousek, speaking for the MAMs, told the St. John Source that 13 of the 30 Majorettes are cancer survivors.

Tropical Focus Photography's Bob Schlesinger, naturally, worked the parade.  he grabbed these photos which make it clear that heat and raindrops could not keep a good parade down.