The term "jump up" literally means "to dance" in the Caribbean. Jump Up on St. Croix is a party in Christiansted's streets. It began as a method to promote the economy and convey joy to the island's residents, but it has now evolved into one of St. Croix's most popular social events among locals and visitors alike. Christiansted comes alive with music, dancing, food, drinks, street sellers, cultural dancers, shopping, steel pans, fire dancers, and the legendary Mocko Jumbies. There is no doubt that this is one of the most famous festivals in the Virgin Islands.

On Jump Up night, Christiansted's streets, boardwalk, and restaurants are packed with people taking in the sights and sounds, sipping local beverages, and sampling St. Croix's delectable cuisine. Street vendors sell local art and wares, and many retail businesses stay open late. The Mocko Jumbies are another popular choice. These stilt dancers mock the evil spirits, also known as 'jumbies,' to scare them away, according to an old African cultural tradition. The Mocko Jumbies are not to be missed; on six-foot stilts, they dance up and down the streets to music. Jump Up is held four times a year on a Friday night, each with a different theme. Enjoy Jump Up's street carnival atmosphere. This is how Christiansted should be savored.

Despite the fact that Christiansted hosts four vibrant Jump Up festivals each year, none is more famous than the St Croix community's annual Valentine's Day spectacle of arts, crafts, food, and mythological mocko jumbies clad in colorful silks on stilts. During this lively Valentine's Day event, the sounds of outdoor vendors and local musicians fill the air.

When:

• February – on the Friday closest to Valentine’s Day
• May – on the first Friday of May
• July – on the Friday closest to Alexander Hamilton Day
• November – on the Friday after Thanksgiving

For many yachtsmen and yachtswomen from around the world, the St. Thomas International Regatta weekend in the US Virgin Islands is a highlight. It's known as the "Crown Jewel of the Caribbean," and it's a chance to brush off the winter dust in preparation for a tough summer of racing.

Others see it as an opportunity to combine sailing and racing with a family vacation to one of the Caribbean's most popular destinations. Whatever the cause, the St. Thomas International Regatta becomes an annual fixture on the calendar once experienced. You return year after year because of the warm, clear seas, gorgeous surroundings, and excellent competition.

Sailors from the Caribbean, Europe, and North America compete in this yacht race, which is considered one of the most competitive in the world. There are other side races in addition to the main racecourse, which is located near Christmas Cove. The Pilsbury Sound Race takes boats across St John's and St Thomas' numerous coves, while the Charlotte Amalie Harbor to St Thomas' East End is a tough distance race.

When: March 25th – 27th

On March 31, the United States Virgin Islands celebrate Transfer Day. It commemorates the 1917 transfer of the islands from Denmark to the United States. The islands were formerly controlled by a number of European countries until being handed up to Denmark in 1754. Transfer Day may have happened years ago, but the United States Senate refused negotiations due to the Panama Canal's construction and finance. Following wartime cash constraints and the threat of a German invasion of Denmark, both parties considered the trade as mutually advantageous.

Annual transfer day celebrations are now held in the Virgin Islands. "Transfer Day is marked annually with a military parade and many ceremonial and cultural events across all the islands," according to a St. Croix website. "A reenactment of the transfer will commence at 4 p.m. Tuesday on the lawns of the 1874 lime-green, white-shuttered Legislature building," according to a 1987 announcement. On March 31, 1917, that was the exact time the event took place." The Danish also reenacted their departure, saying, "The 196-foot-long, three-masted, full-rigged Danish government training ship Danmark has sailed here from Copenhagen, especially for the occasion." The Danish cadets and officers will represent the officers and crew of the Danish cruiser Valkyrien, which took the last Danish governor and his formal party back to Denmark in 1917."

When: March 31th

Since 2001, the Taste of St. Croix has brought together culinary craftsmen from more than 40 local chefs, restaurants, and farms to celebrate the unique spirit and flavor of the island. This flagship event, which began 20 years ago as the brainchild of two local restaurateurs, was created to highlight St. Croix's rich and wonderful cuisine and culture, which draws inspirations from all around the Caribbean and the world.

Today, the TASTE is regarded as one of the most famous festivals in the Virgin Islands, attracting thousands of visitors each year, including international winemakers, rum distillers, beer brewers, and celebrity chefs. Attendees soak up the culture and atmosphere of St. Croix for one night and leave with memories that will keep them coming back year after year. Taste of St. Croix is a night of pure elegance, art, culture, laughter...and a fantastic time.

The Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort and Casino, St. Croix's only all-inclusive resort, will definitely delight foodies during this annual one-day April celebration. During this celebration of St Croix's best culinary skill, more than 50 of the region's most known restaurants serve their best dishes. Traditional Cajun, Creole, and Caribbean dishes are provided alongside French and Italian cuisine. The St Croix Foundation receives all event earnings.

When: April 29 - May 1

The St. George Village Botanical Gardens hosts Mango Melee in July. This famous summer event promotes a wider appreciation for tropical fruits, particularly mangoes, and educates the public on how to grow them and how to use them in a variety of ways. Mango Melee provides educational classes and enjoyable activities for children while also raising funds for the Garden's year-round programming.

'Mango Dis, Mango Dat' is a popular food competition that has grown in popularity in recent years. The competition is open to chefs and cooks from all across the Virgin Islands. Mangoes must appear prominently in four different categories:

• Drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks):
• Sweets (and desserts)
• Salsas (and sauces)
• Stuff (any miscellaneous foods that don’t fit in the other categories)

There are also tropical fruit tastings and demonstrations, as well as numerous mango contests, a Tropical Fruit Identification contest, and the ever-popular kids Mango Eating Contest. Best of all, local food and beverages will be available for purchase, as will a variety of craft sellers. Throughout the Garden, there will be cultural dance performances, moko jumbies, music, and more. The Botanical Gardens will also contain a bar serving tropical rum beverages, a nursery where plants may be purchased, and the Museum and Store. The day comes to a close with a silent auction of the tropical fruits on display in the Great Hall for the occasion.

When: July

The St John's Festival began in the early twentieth century. Residents held masquerade events while still under Danish authority. Emancipation Day, July 3rd, and the US Independence Day, July 4th, have replaced the original celebrations.

In 1945, the first formal St John Festival was held. It was a one-day festival, with food and a colorful parade, bringing people together to share and interact. The festival lasts a month and features island culture, food, music, the opening of a Carnival Village, pageantry, fireworks, a parade, and races. The honoree, US Virgin Islands Governor, and Carnival Queen cut the ribbon to begin off the St John Festival. This day also features the crowning of Ms. St John and the carnival king, as well as a fireworks display rivaling many in mainland United States cities.

When: June - July

The Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament is an environmentally friendly fishing tournament that rewards trophies to anglers who catch the bluest marlin as well as those who tag and release the most fish. The USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament has become one of the world's most prominent fishing tournaments! With so much talent on display, winning usually requires a combination of chance and skill!

Chuck Senf, a Virgin Island angler, founded the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament in 1972. Senf and other sports fishermen started the event to raise awareness of the Virgin Islands' excellent Blue Marlin catch. In addition, proceeds from the tournament were donated to the Boy Scouts of America's Virgin Islands Council, one of Senf's favorite organizations. Since then, the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament has been dubbed the "Boy Scout" Tournament.

When: August