2023 St. John Festival Celebrates Opening of ‘Drinker’s Paradise’Ville’

Festival time on St. John shifted into nonstop entertainment on Thursday night with the opening of Drinker’s Paradise’Ville — the name of the 2023 St. John Festival Village. Organizers from the Tourism Department’s Division of Festivals chose the village name and the honorees in 2022 as they began a full year of planning for the kind of celebration residents and visitors look forward to.

Raymond Athnese and Rehugh Hendricks Jr., operators of the popular booth Drinker’s Paradise, were named as the village honorees. Hendrick’s sister, Shanelle Hendricks-Jones, accepted the posthumous honor on behalf of her brother, who died in 2018. Presentations of commemorative plaques were made by Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte. Boschulte called Athnese “one of our frontline people in the tourism business and especially here on St. John.”

Athnese said he heard about his pending public recognition from Assistant Division of Festivals Director Leona Smith a year ago as the planning for 2023 began. “Leona told me … I said, ‘No, don’t do that.’

“I don’t know if you’ve ever had an argument with Miss Smith, but she always wins. She said, ‘We’re going to give you your accolades while you’re alive,’ ” the honoree said with a smile.