Revelers tune out troubled times for bright, energetic Adults' Parade

ST. CROIX - Thousands of spectators lined the streets of Frederiksted on Saturday for the Crucian Christmas Festival Adults' Parade, which once again revealed the spirit and flavor of the island with bright and extravagant costumes, pumping music and a whole lot of dancing.

The day was bright and lively, as were the 43 troupes that worked the route between 11 a.m. and about 6:30 p.m., when the parade wrapped up as the final troupe made its way past the bandstand by Fort Frederick.

There was plenty to see, with nearly two dozen members of the festival's royalty dressed in elaborate dresses, two troupes of majorettes twirling in sparkling outfits, two troupes of mocko jumbies dancing at the level of second-story balconies, a dozen troupes featuring powerful music and fancifully dressed dancers in bright colors and headdresses - and a few other troupes that defied that convention.

At 1 p.m., Vera Falu, the parade's grand marshal, reached the bandstand, where she was given a plaque and honored for her decades of dedication to festival.

"I been the president of Festival for many years. I have worked with Festival for over 30 years," Falu said. "It means the world to me, because it's a recognition of service to the community. Festival is dear to my heart."

The parade in particular is a time to celebrate the past year and ring in the new with pomp and flair, she said.

"This is how we Crucians start every year - with a lovely parade to demonstrate our talents, our accomplishments, our resilience," she said.

The parade is especially important this year, said Crucian Christmas Festival President Davidson Charlemagne, who described Falu as "the icon of Festival."

"With all the layoffs and everything going on, the people are economizing on what they do," he said."But everybody still have that spirit. And at the end of the day, it will be festival still."

Because of delays in preparations - blamed on Friday rains that could not dampen the moods at the Children's Parade - the Adults' Parade did not begin until after 11 a.m. Spectators, however, had gathered much earlier to scope out and claim spots in the shade, or to make their own shade by erecting tents.

The parade started on Emancipation Drive and weaved down a couple blocks of Fisher Street before turning onto King Street for the long, hot haul down to the bandstand. The crowd thickened near the new Youngblood Market and garden by Marley housing community, where a large group of spectators gathered close together under the shade of trees and tents.

Among them was the Gonsales family - Maria and Ismael Sr., and their four children: Ismael Jr., 12, Helena, 8, Ismarie, 6, and Ya'Ismariel, 4. The kids were all dressed in a similar shade of light green to make it easier for their parents to spot them as they mixed with family and friends in the large crowd.

"It's the tradition, the culture, the festivities," Maria Gonsales said. "The colors."

"The music," added Ismael Gonsales Sr. "The family togetherness that's good."

The girls tended to be interested in the queens - the festival royalty passed first, seated on the backs of convertibles, pickups and one Jeep Wrangler, wearing bright dresses and tiaras as they smiled and waved to the crowd.

Many of the young girls watching practiced the wave with each other.

Helena said she liked "seeing the wonderful dresses - and so colorful!"

Ismael Jr. liked the drum lines and Ismarie the mocko jumbies - "They're so tall and people get to dance with them," she said, then smiled brightly and nodded when asked if she herself would dance with them.

Neither of the children would be disappointed. The V.I. Superior Court Rising Stars Steel Orchestra - always a crowd favorite - bounced forcefully with the music to tunes like "Time of My Life."

Then the spectators again drew close to the barricades erected along the sides to get pictures of the dozen or so Guardians of Culture mocko jumbies - dressed in shiny black outfits with gold trim and Asian lettering. The mocko jumbies worked the crowd with flare and posed in outrageous positions for photos.

Vincent Dowey and his wife, Felecia Caldwell, came in from Seattle for Festival season.

"I've been here several times, but I've never been for Festival, so this time I wanted to be here," Caldwell said.

"I love the mocko jumbies and the adults that play mass," said Dowey, who is from St. Croix. "It's tradition."

They were able to see the St. Croix Majorettes and Sparkle Lite Twirlers - each dressed in shimmering suits that reflected the sun as they performed.

Masqueraders made their way down the street in colorful, striped clothing and straw hats as they played djembes and scratch board. The St. Croix Bikers Motorcycle Club spun tires and revved engines.

Soon came the large troupes characterized by loud music and dancing women in pink, green, red, blue, orange and black bikinis topped off with colorful headdresses and elaborate feathers. Some of the troops had women in elaborate costumes of a peacock-style design. J&J Fun Troupe appeared to have the most dancers and the most elaborate costumes - with at least 10 extravagantly dressed individuals in brightly colored costumes.

Other troupes used pirate and Las Vegas themes in their costumes.

Gentleman of Jones celebrated its 60th anniversary with revelers dressed in white suits with coattails - always interacting with the crowd and drawing in people to dance.

There were a number of troupes that drew on cultural ties to Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago. The Caribbean Revelers' "Trini-VI Togetherness" troupe represented a change of pace, as the lively group made its way down King Street blowing conch shells and ringing hubcaps, mufflers and cow bells to a different beat. As the troupe passed by Lost Dog Pub, the revelers drew a massive group of spectators over the barricades to follow them down the street to the bandstand.

The parade finished around 6:30 p.m., shortly after the sun went down and the waning light hung over the streets of Frederiksted.

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