St. John Festival: Hot! Hot! Hot!

Temperatures in the upper ‘80s are forecast for the balance of this week as Jump Up And Congregate For Festival 2008 winds toward its noisy conclusion with fireworks over Cruz Bay harbor on July 4th at 9 p.m.  Celebration Village opened in the downtown parking lot, across from the Post office, last weekend.  It is named Scatliffe Village in honor of “Miss I” Scatliffe who has been a fixture at her booth during Celebrations in years past, as she sold home made dishes like corned pork and dumplings.   There are more than a dozen booths in the Village this year, selling food and drinks.

(Photograph at left is courtesy of the St. John Sun Times, which has a festival schedule here: http://stjohnsuntimes.com/carnival_2008

Traditional dancers, arts and crafts will highlight Thursday’s events in the Frank Powell Park down town, while Friday will bring the annual J’Ouvert party and parade – beginning at 4 a.m. (Why go to bed Thursday night?)  Later Friday, the island’s largest parade begins at 11 a.m. featuring costumes, performers, floats and lots of fun.

Friday night brings the traditional fireworks, launched from a barge out in the water (Hey, anyone with a video camera on island … put the video up on YouTube and send us the link, so everyone can see.)

But, wait – there’s more.  Sunday there will be a beach jam at Oppenheimer.  Music will be offered by El a Kru and Spectrum