traveldk.com

Lasting through December until Three Kings Day, this annual festival features a plethora of events, from parades to musical programs. Sample island dishes at Food Fair, held in mid-December. Event locations vary, usually between Christiansted and Frederiksted in alternating years.

This mega event, held every February at the Agriculture Department Grounds, puts a new spin on the country fair. Look for agricultural exhibits as well as games, food, old-time music, and cooking demonstrations. St. Croix’s youthful members of the international group 4-H also put on displays at the Agrifest.

This annual June and July event wraps up with a three-hour parade through the streets of Cruz Bay. The music is deafening, the town overflowing, and the fun on the party-hearty side. You won’t see much in the way of American flags; this is definitely a Caribbean event.

Held every April, sometimes running into May, this event, like those on the other islands, has numerous activities including parades, beauty pageants, and food fairs. The closing parade is an all-day affair that draws thousands to Main Street in Charlotte Amalie.

While the locals shop for plants, herbs, and fresh veggies at this November fair, savvy visitors look for well-made crafts seldom seen in shops. Handcrafted dolls and small brooms made of palm fronds make unusual take-home gifts.

Texas meets the Caribbean at this annual September event held at Bolongo Bay Beach Club (seeBolongo Bay Beach Club, St. Thomas). Island chefs cook up vats of mouth-watering chili to vie for top honors. The music is loud, but the crowd congenial.

Commemorating the end of slavery on August 1, 1834, Tortola’s carnival is marked by a day-long parade in Road Town, athletic events, beauty pageants, and food fairs. Even in a region not known for punctuality, the parade is notorious for hours-late starts.

This week-long event in February or early March features a produce and livestock exhibition by farmers at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Additional exhibitions are held across the territory. The finale is a food fair where you can savor island fare.

The island shifts into party mode every Easter weekend for its annual carnival. A beauty pageant and a small parade are the highlights. Residents of other islands often visit at this time, so make hotel bookings early.

This exciting boat race, to Cane Garden Bay in Tortola and back, held the last weekend in May, attracts skippers of all manner of wooden boats. The legendary beach parties are full of food, fun, and music.