Explore our Carnivals & Festivals Each of our island carnivals is one heck of a party. Marvel at costumes that are heavy enough to be supported by wheels and soar as tall as a house. Watch moko jumbie dancers whose stilts are taller still. See parades of people dancing for hours, transported by calypso and soca music blasted from colorful floats by local bands. And catch the competitions for Calypso King and other carnival royalty. It’s all launched by J’Ouvert, a wild sunrise street dance. You’ll discover that our various carnivals celebrate everything from freedom to the joy of Christmas and hope for the coming new year. Featured Carnivals & Festivals St. Thomas Carnival From April 23 - 30 enjoy a celebration that includes a waterfront J’Ouvert street dance around bands on trucks, huge children’s and adults’ parades with elaborate costumes, a food fair, and a carnival village that holds calypso and reggae nights while serving food and drink nonstop. Explore St. Thomas Crucian Christmas Festival This celebration has roots in the days when slaves joined in Christmas celebrations, as well as Puerto Rico’s celebration of Three Kings Day. From late December through early January in Frederiksted, enjoy J’Ouvert, a parade, food and music. Explore St. Croix St. John Carnival Smaller and more intimate than other carnivals, this event marks the end of slavery on the islands on July 3, 1848, as well as the founding of the United States on July 4, 1776. Its parade is just as fun, albeit smaller than others. And the lines for food and drinks are shorter! Explore St. John St. Croix Jump Ups During these mini carnivals held in Christiansted four times a year, the streets are closed to vehicles and filled with people, a variety of vendors and music. The biggest Jump Up is held annually on Valentine’s Day. Explore St. Croix Mango Melee This early-July celebration of the marvelous mango is held annually at St. George Village Botanical Garden. It features chefs and mixologists using the golden-fleshed tropical fruit in every way imaginable, plus a mango-eating contest and music by top local bands. Explore St. Croix St. Patrick’s Day Parade It might seem odd to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on this island in the Caribbean, but it’s a parade and party that has been held annually in Christiansted for more than 50 years. Come join the fun, Irish or not. Explore St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands Caribbean Music Festival Background: The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism presents the U.S. Virgin Islands Caribbean Music Festival curated by the United Jazz Foundation in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Dates: Fri, Feb 17, Sat. Mar 25, and Sat. May 27 Location: Fort Frederik in Frederiksted, St. Croix Admission: Free Additional information: https://www.caribbeanmusicheritage.org/ Explore St. Croix Prince & Princess Show St. Thomas Carnival Date: April 8, 2023 UVI Sports & Fitness Center @ 5pm Queen Show St. Thomas Carnival UVI Sports & Fitness Center @ 8pm Date: April 15, 2023 Calypso Monarch St. Thomas Carnival Crown Bay @ 8pm Date: April 22, 2023 Boat & Car Show/Pan Fest St. Thomas Carnival Waterfront @ 11am Date: April 23, 2023 Opening of Kelly "Pupa Kelly" Charleswell Musical Arena St. Thomas Carnival Carnival Village @ 6pm Dates April 24 - 29, 2023 Steel Pan & Teen Tramp St. Thomas Carnival Main Street to Village @ 6pm Date: April 25, 2023 Food Fair & Quelbe Tramp St. Thomas Carnival Emancipation Garden @ 10am & Main Street @ 6pm Date: April 26, 2023 J’ouvert Mawnin St. Thomas Carnival Waterfront @ 6am Date: April 27, 2023 Children's Parade St. Thomas Carnival Emancipation Garden @ 11am & TBD Date: April 28, 2023 Adults Parade & Fireworks St. Thomas Carnival Main Street @ 10am Fireworks @ 9pm Date: April 29, 2023 Panorama St. Thomas Carnival Village @4pm April 30, 2023 Rocking Steady Reggae Concert Tarrus Tiley & Blak Soil Band Duane Stephenson Pressure Busspipe featuring Dub Lab DJ Avalanche VI Dream Team Jah Seed DJ Pete Crown Bay Center, Saturday March 25 USVI Caribbean Music Festival VI Jazz Collective / Dion Parson Chucho Valdes Terence Blanchard Joe Lovano The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra / Gabriela Cavassa Frederiksted Promenade, Saturday March 25 https://www.caribbeanmusicheritage.org/ Carnival Village Reggae Night Shenseea DeZarie King Lion Romain Virgo Carnival Village, Friday April 28 Carnival Village Rep VI Flag Adam O Pumpa & The Unit Bugz & Blind Ears Mone'a Mic Love Karnage Carnival Village, Thursday April 27th St. Thomas CarnivalSt. Thomas Crucian Christmas FestivalSt. Croix St. John CarnivalSt. John St. Croix Jump UpsSt. Croix Mango MeleeSt. Croix St. Patrick’s Day ParadeSt. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands Caribbean Music FestivalSt. Croix Prince & Princess ShowSt. ThomasQueen ShowSt. ThomasCalypso MonarchSt. ThomasBoat & Car Show/Pan FestSt. ThomasOpening of Kelly "Pupa Kelly" Charleswell Musical ArenaSt. ThomasSteel Pan & Teen TrampSt. ThomasFood Fair & Quelbe TrampSt. ThomasJ’ouvert MawninSt. ThomasChildren's ParadeSt. ThomasAdults Parade & FireworksSt. ThomasPanoramaSt. ThomasRocking Steady Reggae ConcertSt. Thomas USVI Caribbean Music FestivalSt. Croix Carnival Village Reggae NightSt. Thomas Carnival Village Rep VI FlagSt. Thomas Book Your Festival Experience More to Experience Places to Stay Things to Do Local Cuisine Shopping Outdoor Adventures Beaches Water Activities Know Before You Go All Planning Tips Image Travel Transportation As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport for U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. More Health Hospitals Good hospitals with well-trained doctors and medical professionals are available on St. Croix and St. Thomas. More Sunscreen MINERAL ONLY Please use only mineral sunscreen. It's the law in the U.S. Virgin Islands. More Weather When to Visit The U.S. Virgin Islands is a year-round destination; however, you may find the best bargains on hotels and attractions during the summer months. More Cruise Ships St Thomas is the most popular cruise ship destination in the Caribbean, with more than 500 arrivals each year. These ships pull in to the West Indian Company dock in Havensight on the eastern edge of St Thomas Harbour, and to Crown Bay Marina to the West. More All Planning Tips Image