Santa Visits St. John Children at Governor’s Christmas Party

Santa Claus took time out of his busy schedule to visit with the children of St. John while handing out Christmas gifts on Monday evening, December 18, at Gov. Charles Turnbull’s final Children’s Christmas Party at Franklin A. Powell Sr. Park.

The party kicked off with a parade, led by a St. John Fire Department truck with lights blazing. Close behind was the island’s own Miss St. John 2006-2007, Moremi Aderohunmu, dressed in her royal garb, greeting the crowd of more than 200 St. John residents as she traveled the parade route from the Battery to the Cruz Bay ferry dock.

The Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program Marching Kings, led by Virgin Islands Police Officer Steven Payne got the crowd warmed up with its drum beat music, and the JDPP Jammerz got the crowd jumping with their performance of “Chicken Noodle Soup.”

Next, the St. Thomas Major-ettes performed, decked out in belts made of bells that jingled when they moved, expertly twirling large candy canes.

The Love City Leapers wowed the party-goers with a long performance showcasing their be-ginner, intermediate and ad-vanced jump-roping skills. The crowd formed a tight circle as everyone hoped to get a glance of the Leapers, who performed single tricks and double dutch tricks, which involves using two jump ropes at once.

Finally, it was time for the moment all the children had been waiting for — Santa Claus and his helpers arrived on a float decked out in Christmas decorations. But it wasn’t time to hand out presents just yet.

The St. John School of the Arts choir, led by Shatik Stephens, performed “What A Wonderful World,” and, to get everyone in the holiday spirit, “Let It Snow.”

At last, Santa Claus made his way up to the gazebo, where children streamed through to meet Santa and receive a gift.
The Love City Pan Dragons performed as hundreds of St. John children received gifts, and the Governor’s Children’s Christmas Party went off without a hitch.