Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Oct 17); Liberty Day (Nov 1); and Christmas Second Day (Dec 26). The islands also
celebrate 2 carnival days on the last Friday and Saturday in April: Children's Carnival
Parade and the Grand Carnival Parade.
In the
British Virgin Islands,
public holidays include the following: New Year's
Day, Commonwealth Day (Mar 12), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whitmonday
(sometime in July), Territory Day Sunday (usually July 1), Festival Monday and Tues-
day (during the first week of Aug), St. Ursula's Day (Oct 21), Birthday of the Heir to
the Throne (Nov 14), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (Dec 26).
The Virgin Islands Calendar of Events
For an exhaustive list of events beyond those listed here, check http://events.frommers.
com, where you'll find a searchable, up-to-the-minute roster of what's happening in cities
all over the world.
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FEBRUARY
Annual St. Croix International Regatta,
St.
Croix. Held at the St. Croix Yacht Club on
Teague Bay, this 3-day regatta celebrates
its 19th year in 2012. Although a rather
minor regatta, it draws serious yachties
from the B.V.I., the U.S.V.I., and Florida. Call
St. Croix Yacht Club at
&
340/773-9531,
or visit www.stcroixyc.com for details.
Mid-February.
MARCH
Mardi Gras Annual Parade,
St. Croix. The
scenic north shore of St. Croix becomes
one big colorful party at Mardi Gras, with a
parade to Cane Bay. For information, check
www.stcroixtourism.com. First Saturday
before Fat Tuesday, usually early March.
International Rolex Cup Regatta,
St.
Thomas. This is one of three regattas in the
Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle (CORT)
series. Top-ranked international racers
come to St. Thomas to compete in front of
the world's yachting press. The St. Thomas
Yacht Club hosts the 3-day event. Call
&
340/775-4701,
or visit www.rolexcup
regatta.com. Late March.
Transfer Day,
U.S. Virgin Islands. This holi-
day commemorates the day the U.S. Virgins
were transferred from Denmark to the
United States. On this day, vendors sell
Danish products, and visits to the remains
of Danish ruins and forts are arranged. Call
&
340/772-0598,
or visit www.stcroix
landmarks.com. March 31.
APRIL
B.V.I. Spring Regatta,
Tortola. This is the
third of the CORT events (see International
Rolex Cup Regatta, above). A range of tal-
ents, from the most dedicated racers to
bareboat crews out for “rum and reggae,”
participate in the 4-day race. Contact the
B.V.I. Spring Regatta Committee in Tortola
at
&
284/541-6732,
or sail over to www.
bvispringregatta.org for information. Early
April.
Virgin Gorda Easter Festival,
Virgin Gorda.
Easter weekend is a big event on Virgin
Gorda, featuring street parades, a beauty
pageant, and nonstop partying. Arrive on
Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or Easter Sun-
day, and you should have no trouble finding
the party. Easter weekend.
Virgin Islands Carnival,
St. Thomas. This
annual celebration on St. Thomas, with
origins in Africa, is the most spectacular
and fun carnival in the Virgin Islands.
“Mocko Jumbies,” people dressed as spirits,
parade through the streets on stilts nearly
20 feet high. Steel and fungi bands, “jump-
ups,” and parades are part of the festivities.
Over the years, interestingly, the festivities
have become more and more Christianized.
Events take place islandwide, but most of
the action is on the streets of Charlotte
Amalie. For information, call
&
340/776-
3112,
or visit www.vicarnival.com for a
schedule of events. After Easter.
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