In Search Of Good Time, Residents Find Food Truck Festival In Frederiksted

ST. CROIX — A good time was to be had at the Food Truck Festival in Frederiksted last night. What with Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights serenading a willing crowd of partygoers, and enough food to confuse one’s taste buds.

The event is held annually from 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., and is sponsored in part by the Department of Tourism and the Frederiksted Economic Development Association (FEDA).

Unlike last year’s affair, which included top local acts like Pressure and Tia, this year’s event was somewhat subdued, but people enjoyed themselves nonetheless — dancing, mingling and being entertained by Stanley’s band, a deejay and the AY-Ay Cultural Dance Company, whose dancers performed no less than four sets.

Event-goers represented a good mix of young, middle-aged and older adults. They patronized the ten food operations that lined the waterfront last night. There, the usual suspects, as well as some new food providers, served well-known local eats, including pate, bull foot soup, paella, chicken and Johnnycake, among other local favorites.

“I am having a fabulous time! And I’m really enjoying Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights,” said Resa O’Reilly, president of Project Promise. As was the case with most people, Ms. O’Reilly delighted in the local culinary, and emphasized her enjoyment of the event.

Deon Williams, a physicist from St. Croix, who now works for NASA and invited to the territory by the Department of Education to St. Thomas to talk to students about his success, and to instill in them the notion that they too could become whatsoever they choose, stopped on the Big Island before he left.

“So far so good,” Mr. Williams said about the Food Truck Festival. “I’m not ready to go back.”

Missing from last night’s gathering were local dignitaries. Senators were scarce, so too were Mapp administration officials, although St. Croix Administrator Stephanie Williams was present. Last year, lawmakers and other local leaders attended, including Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, Senator Sammuel Sanes and others.

But their absence had no bearing on the mood of those who descended on Frederiksted last night. People danced, laughed and ate the night away. Some were friends who hadn’t seen each other for a while, and others came as groups, moving through the crowds, inspecting the culinary offerings and enjoying every moment while it lasted.