Music, culture, and community spirit flowed as freely as the coquito at the 2025 Coquito Festival, held at La Reine Chicken Shack on St. Croix, once again proving to be a festive highlight of the holiday season.
Hundreds of community members gathered on Saturday to celebrate one of the territory’s most beloved holiday traditions. The event brought together local vendors, families, and visitors eager to sample a wide range of coquito flavors while enjoying festive entertainment and activities.
Attendees tasted both classic and inventive versions of the coconut-based holiday drink, while judges cast their votes in a blind tasting to determine the season’s best coquito. First-place honors went to Jael Browne of Local Harvest Café, who stood out among a competitive lineup of entries.
Beyond flavor, presentation played a major role in the celebration, with vendors decorating booths and bottles in vibrant, eye-catching designs. Luz Sierra, dressed in attire representing the Puerto Rican flag, added to the cultural atmosphere while posing near a statue of the Three Kings.
Several vendors highlighted the traditions behind their recipes. The owner of Classic Coquito shared that her drink incorporates authentic Puerto Rican flavors passed down through generations of her family. Others, including Cruzan Coquito, offered vegan options to accommodate dietary needs, featuring flavors such as Pistachio, Nutella, Butter Pecan, and Original. Maria’s Kitchen also emphasized that coquito flavor is “all in the tea”—a boiled blend of spices such as nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon that creates the signature mixture of “milks.”
Family-friendly activities were also a major draw. Children enjoyed bounce houses, posed for photos with Santa, and received gifts, making the festival a joyful experience for all ages.
As the evening continued, adults enjoyed music from DJs and live bands while indulging in La Reine Chicken Shack’s staples, including johnny cakes and rotisserie chicken.
To see a live feed of the event, visit the V.I. Source Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/visource/
