Wyclef Jean and Other Deliver Shine at 70th Annual St. John Celebration in U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and Division of Festivals recently celebrated the successful conclusion of the 2024 Carnival Season with the much-anticipated St. John Celebration.

Photo byImage provided by U.S. Virgin Island Tourism Council

This annual carnival event, held on the picturesque island of St. John, drew revelers from across the territory and around the globe to Love City for a week of vibrant festivities centered around the annual observance of Emancipation. Following last year’s milestone 175th anniversary of Emancipation, the St. John community gathered once more to commemorate another significant occasion—the 70th annual Celebration.

“From the historical reenactments to cherished longstanding traditions like pageants and food fairs, St. John Celebration continues to inspire the future by holding strong to the deep values that have shaped who we are as a people,” said Commissioner Joseph Boschulte of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism in a press statement.

The 2024 Celebration Village, dedicated to St. John native Ms. Gwenda Dagou, featured an impressive lineup of performances from artists including Kes the Band, Patrice Roberts, Dexta Daps, Mr. Killa, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Lyrikal, Asa Bantan, Adam O, Richie Spice, Nadia Batson, Cool Session, and more. International superstar Wyclef Jean delivered a once-in-a-lifetime performance on Wednesday night, while breakout star and Virgin Islands native Pumpa closed out the weeklong celebration on the 4th of July with an epic homecoming show.

“Every year, we strive to bring top-notch performances and experiences to our Carnival Villages, and this year, we continued that trend by welcoming premier musicians from across the Caribbean, further supporting the region’s One Caribbean motto,” shared Director Ian Turnbull of the U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Festivals in a press statement.

Additional highlights from the St. John Celebration included the crowning of the 2024 Carnival Queen, Princess, and Prince, as well as the lively J’ouvert and Parade Day. Revelers adorned in elaborate and traditional costumes processed through the streets of Cruz Bay, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

Images from the St. John Celebration, available for media use with attribution, can be found here.

For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, please visit https://www.visitusvi.com/.