STX Christmas Boat Parade set to sail with new leadership, expanded family fun

The St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade is set to sail with expanded fun for the whole family, new leadership and a longtime face of the festival leading as parade marshall.

“It is such a special event where, when you’re in Christiansted, you see the entire large cross-section of St. Croix as a whole on the boardwalk — walking around the street,” Nadia Bougouneau, the new chair of the parade’s executive committee, told The Daily News. The event, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, is known for lighting up the Christiansted boardwalk with festive, holiday-light-adorned boats, along with a multitude of vendors and entertainment for parade-goers of all ages to enjoy, which Bougouneau describes as a “Jump Up on steroids”, a reference to the themed block parties held in downtown Christiansted.

“The vendors have an opportunity to showcase their goods and make money for the holidays,” she said. “The folks who participate, you know, have a lot of pride in what they do and are really proud to be able to participate and bring cheer.” This year’s parade will include an extra hour of fun for the community as vendors and businesses will stay open later than usual as an opportunity to make some extra money for their businesses ahead of the holidays.