Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights to be Honored During Crucian Christmas Festival

ST. CROIX — St. Croix’s renowned musical group Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights will be honored at this year’s Crucian Christmas Festival on its 50th anniversary in the music business, the Department of Tourism has announced.

Newly-appointed Director of the Division of Festivals, Ian Turnbull, announced that the iconic group will be celebrated at the festival, whose village has been named “Stanleyville” this year. 

One of three major cultural events celebrated annually on St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, this year’s Crucian festivities will be held on the Big Island between December 6, 2019 and January 5, 2020.  

“It’s hard to find another musician (Stanley Jacobs) or musical group deserving of this honor after working tirelessly to keep our quelbe music and Crucian culture alive for more than five decades,” said Mr. Turnbull, who confirmed that culinary icon and culture bearer Lena Schulterbrandt will also be honored during the festival’s “Cultural Night”. 

With the theme “What a Sight to See: Music, Culture and Pageantry”, this year’s festival schedule is undergoing a revival and will include calypso and soca events, a boat parade, food fair, pageants, reggae and latin nights, along with the traditional Children’s and Adults parades. 

Shamari Haynes, the division’s assistant director for St. Croix, stated that new components of this year’s festival include a Sweet Bread and Jam Breakfast Fete in Christiansted, and “Jou’Day”, a day-time street party, each of which will showcase the food truck cuisine of St. Croix. Food trucks will also be able to park on the periphery of the festival village. 

Mr. Haynes reminded vendors participating in the festival of a committee meeting on Wednesday, October 23 at Gertrude’s restaurant at 5:30 p.m. 

All vendors doing business with the Division of Festivals are required to have a valid USVI Business License and DUNS number, according to D.O.T.  For further information, vendors can contact the Division of Festivals at the Department of Tourism.  

Mr. Haynes can be reached at 340-772-0357 or [email protected], while Mr. Turnbull and Assistant Director for St. Thomas Halvor Hart III can be contacted at 340-774-8784, or [email protected] and [email protected], respectively.