July 4th

The local Emancipation Day (July 3rd) celebration gives way to the American July 4th, but the main thrust of the holiday for Virgin Islanders is the Emancipation Day of 1848, when slaves were granted their freedom here. Independence Day is an odd coincidence, and yes, there are fireworks on the waterfront on July 4th after the parade (Cruz Bay St. John). Visit the main VINow page, http://www.vinow.com, and hover over the "About USVI" menu underneath the smiling lady to the upper left and you will see the Events Calendar link. Follow that for all the activities, including the St. John Celebration.

Not sure if there will be fireworks on St. Croix, but it's not impossible. Check in with your island manager or resort concierge, maybe they know of something. As we get closer, more info will pop out, I'm sure.

There are usually fireworks in Frederiksted let off around the pier. Last year, the east end did not have their typical fireworks so what seemed like everyone came out west for the event! It was pretty packed. Set yourself up on the beach from Cottages down Rainbow or at a beach bar, or waterside restaurant, or just on the water front and you should get a pretty good view!

Or you can do what a few intrepid divers have done which is sink a beach chair in the shallow part of the pier, dive down, lean back and watch the fireworks from below!

in years past we've gone to the top of the beast and have watched them over on STT and STJ, i think the east end fireworks were always sponsored by prosser, the country club in f'sted used to do them,not sure if they still do or not

Camping is really big on the big island (STX) over Fourth of July so be prepared to see a lot of tents and people on the beaches while you are here. Some of them set up camp for the whole week.

There used to be fireworks at the Yacht Club (way east), but they stopped a few years ago after someone got hurt. Now they do the F'sted fireworks (courtesy of a F'sted social club (the country club) I think). I've been and they are really awesome!

Just like back on the mainland... we all love to go to the beach, have bbq's in the backyard by the pool, get together with friends and just have a nice time celebrating the holiday!

the key to the F'sted fireworks is to go early in the day (by mid-afternoon) with a picnic dinner and full cooler and stake out your place. Plan to hang out at least an hour to an hour and a half after the fireworks or you'll just sit in the departing traffic for that long anyway. The show usually runs about half an hour and is pretty good (certainly more than I expected when I moved here).

thanks everyone. looking forward to it all.

-trey