St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Crucians have been known to celebrate anything, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade is no exception. With St. Croix's diverse history and cultures, there's something to celebrate year round! The St. Patrick's Day Parade on St. Croix is known all over as one of the biggest parties of the year. People plan their vacation around this event. Surprisingly, this parade is the only one on St. Croix known to EVER start on time. The grand marshal promptly steps out at 11:00am to allow the festivities begin...at least the official ones. Many of the parade goers have already treated themselves to the local food and drinks that line the streets of the parade route.
Christiansted's streets turn into a sea of green as scores of people turn out to enjoy the floats from local businesses and groups tossing beads, candy, favors, even cooling off the crowd with a Super Soaker. Each year the parade is themed, and each individual float has it's own interpretation of the theme with parade participants dressing in costume accordingly (in green of course). The crowds watching the festivities also turn out in their most outrageous, creative, green finery. In fact, the crowd is just as much fun to see as the parade - with everything from green-dyed hair or skin, to full leprechaun regalia!
After the parade finishes it's tramp down King Street, the local bars and restaurants keep the party going with live music, DJs, food vendors, and drinks. The sea of green revelers moves towards the Christiansted boardwalk to continue the celebration all day long and into the night. The St. Patty's Day Parade is truly is a Caribbean-Irish party not to be missed!
The St. Patrick's Day Parade is organized by private businesses and individuals, and the funds raised from the parade entries goes to local charities and organizations. Thank you to the parade committee, the police department who keep the streets safe, the vendors who provide food and drinks, and the clean up committee - who clean up all the fun!
Event Details
Date and Time
The parade usually takes place on the Saturday closest to or before St. Patrick's Day at 11:00am. Please check our March calendar of events to see this year's parade date once it is confirmed.
Location and Parade Route
The parade starts at the Christiansted Fort and will go down Company Street to Market Street, it will turn and come back down King Street, ending at the Fort. NOTE: There is no parking on Company Street, Market Street, King Street, Church Street and Queen Cross Street from 3:00AM to 4:30PM on parade day.
History of the St. Patrick's Day Parade
The St. Croix St. Patrick's Day Parade began in 1969 when a group of local businessmen convened in a bar on Queen Cross Street. The conversation got around to holidays and why St. Patrick's Day wasn't celebrated in the Virgin Islands. Deciding that something had to be done right away, the first St. Patrick's Day Parade was born.
The the newly organized committee and fellow supporters created a float comprised of a stakebed truck with a piano on top. Then, they hopped aboard, and started down the streets singing Irish and local songs and saluting passers-by who came out to see what was going on. Those who were already wearing green got into the spirit at once, while others who needed something green ran into the shops to find it. Some even joined the procession! Thus, the first St. Patrick's Day Parade was born. To this day, it is going strong and is an important day for the community, beneficiaries and tourists.
