Part 2: Island Holiday Happenings - Boat Parade

This year, we couldn’t make every Christmas event on Island, but we did make the boat parade! Well… my humans did. I didn’t go, because as a small rescue pup, I get stressed out when there are a lot of people. I’m working on that, but for now, I’m here to tell you about all the wonderful things my humans experienced.

For those who don’t know, the boat parade is a spectacular event where a bunch of individually and corporately owned boats pile on the Christmas decorations and head out on the water in Christiansted Harbor for a parade. The boats that floated by were all different shapes and sizes. Some were big, some were small, but each one brought something unique to the parade. All of the boats were decorated creatively and beautifully.  Some had classic holiday lights, others featured Santa, some had inflatables, and a few even had fires spewing out of them.

The parade itself was amazing, but before it even began, there were so many other awesome things to enjoy! Reportedly, my humans saw their first Moko Jumbies in person. Here in St. Croix, Moko Jumbies aren’t simply people who walk on stilts, they are the guardians of culture. They symbolize protection, resilience, and the vibrant culture of this island. I’d love to meet a Moko Jumbie in person and have them pick me up so I could enjoy the breeze and smells from up high.

As my two-legged companions waited for the parade to start, they walked a street lined with local vendors who were selling delicious food and drink. They enjoyed beef pate, conch pate, slow-roasted chicken, johnny cakes, grilled kebabs, and some tasty ice cream.  It must have been extraordinary to sample so many different tasty treats at once. With full bellies, my humans settled in at the water’s edge to enjoy the parade of boats.

After a brilliantly bright parade, there was a special surprise that many people didn’t expect…A drone show!!!  My humans had never seen one before. They stood there mesmerized as a bunch of drones with different colored lights flew through the sky to create beautiful pictures. My human dad had lots to share about how those shows are programmed, but for this night, they decided to just be in awe of it.

After such an incredible evening, you’d think that would be the end… but it wasn’t! Last, but not least, the night finished with a glorious fireworks show. It made for a late night, but my humans were able to beat the crowds back to the car, thanks to excellent planning on their part.

The night was full of exhilarating things, but one of the greatest was the opportunity to enjoy it with so many people from the island. My humans ran into friends, made new ones, and felt blessed to be welcomed to an island filled not only with beautiful places, but beautiful people. The dogs aren’t too shabby either!