The Virgin Islands Carnival is held annually on the island of St. Thomas, usually during the last week of April. It is a time when Virgin Islanders are anxious to display their creativity and talents while graciously demonstrating their hospitality. This festival is organized by the Virgin Islands Carnival Committee, Inc., a nonprofit corporation formed for the express purpose of developing the celebration. The social and economic value is of such enormous proportions that it is unimaginable that it will ever be discontinued.

With a paid staff of two and a volunteer group of approximately 150, the committee has catapulted the St. Thomas gala into the top ten Carnivals in the world, according to the results of a survey printed in a February, 2003 edition of USA Today. As if to corroborate that declaration, the Discovery Channel HD chose the St. Thomas Carnival to shoot footage for their “Fantastic Festivals of the World” series. According to one of the producers, this celebration was the only festival throughout the Caribbean or the United States to receive that honor up to that point in time.

The accrual of several notable National and International awards during the last two decades attracted worldwide attention to the festival. Several Carnival Queens captured the crown of Jaycees Caribbean Queen on the island of Antigua while another won the best talent segment of the Miss World Beauty Pageant held in China. Additionally, the International Festivals and Events Association’s annual Pinnacle Award for “Best Promotional Poster” category was bestowed on the committee on three separate occasions.

St. Thomas Carnival boasts a “Schedule of Events” which features something for everyone. The rich, the poor, the young, the old, the healthy and the infirm, all get a chance to enjoy the Carnival experience. Yes, the access road to the main entrance of the Schneider Hospital is transformed into a major staging area where hundreds of entertainers parade, sing or dance for the amusement of patients and numerous tenants from Senior Citizen’s housing facilities who are bussed there for that occasion.

A truly distinctive occurrence is when ordinary citizens are rewarded for their unrelenting involvement in some aspect of Carnival and the title of “Honoree” is bestowed upon them. Due to a very diverse population, entertainers from throughout the Caribbean are featured along with local talent, resulting in a great deal of camaraderie among everyone. This solidarity tends to make Carnival in St. Thomas a remarkable, intimate experience.

After a long night of reveling, one can quickly be rejuvenated by taking a swim. A short 15 minutes drive will get you to Magens Bay, one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. So, don’t hesitate. Go to www.vicarnivaltravel.com and book your flight. Remember, this is an American territory. There is no need for a calculator to compute the exchange for currency and there is no need for a passport to return to the U.S. mainland