Steve Simon presents the fifth annual St. John Christmas Music Festival and Children’s Parade on Sunday, December 13.
A glorious night of free Jazz concerts under the stars in the heart of Cruz Bay in Winston Wells ball field will follow immediately after the parade.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the St. John Christmas Children’s Parade has become a tradition with many of the island’s groups and hundreds of children participating.
This year, a record-breaking number of floats will ring in the holiday season. It is truly a parade for all ages. Starting in front of Mongoose Junction, Santa will lead the torch-lit parade through Cruz Bay, around the ferry dock and then up to Winston Wells Ball Field.
Live Christmas music will fill the air with island steel pan bands and plenty of Reggae sounds. The parade route will be filled with Christmas spirit as locals and visitors line both sides of the street. Upon reaching Winston Wells ball field, Santa will be giving every child in attendance a free Christmas gift. So plan on coming early and staying late to enjoy a fabulous free Jazz concert by some of the Virgin Islands’ most talented high school Jazz musicians.
Opening the concert will be St. Thomas high school student and saxophone prodigy Malachi Thomas and his amazing band Jazz Lake featuring Jonte Samuels and J’Moi Powell on sax, Tabari Lake on bass, Kai Richardson on trumpet, Deveron Leonard on percussion and Louis Taylor on piano.
Following Jazz Lake will be the renowned Central High School Jazz Ensemble from St. Croix under the leadership of Mr. Stan Joines. This incredible band features Kardelle President on keyboards, Ishmael Rodriguez on bass, J’Von Smith on drums, Tyrone Benjamin on tenor sax, Ernel Edmond on trumpet, Ajeeb Abdulbaeth on alto sax and congas, Benjamin Flenyol on tenor sax, and Jazz vocalist Jeaiza Quinones.
Food and beverage service will be available all evening so bring a chair or bring a blanket but please be cool…no coolers.
This renowned annual holiday family event is sponsored by the “Angels” at Merchants Commercial Bank, the Lumberyard Complex, Tropical Properties, FirstBank, Chelsea Drugs, Theodore Tunick and Company, Donald Sussman and Steve and Helen Simon.
For more information contact Steve Simon at stevesimonlive@yahoo.com or at 340-643-6475.