Halloween is the Virgin Islands
Halloween in the Virgins
Ahoy Mates! Looking for some Halloween fun and antics this season? Then “Welcome Aboard!” We have a few suggestions and tips on how to make the most of this Halloween season. We are pirates, after all, and indulging in a bit of spooky, scary revelry is right up our galley.
Ghouls, Ghosts, and Pumpkins Galore!
Similar to stateside happenings, the Halloween season in the Virgin Islands is already in full swing. In fact, seasonal festivities like decorating contests, autumn carnivals, and pumpkin carving events are happening throughout the islands. While dressing up in your favorite costume and heading to your favorite watering hole is always an option for celebrating this ghoulish holiday, here are a few scheduled events to keep in mind:
On St. John:
Mongoose Junction hasn’t announced details yet, but it’s typically the place for children’s trick-or-treat festivities. In year’s past, children in costume were invited to stop by between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. while merchants handed out candy.
Skinny Legs Halloween Bash: Skinny’s annual Halloween Bash is scheduled for Friday October 31st from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.. This is always the grand re-opening for the bar and restaurant after closing for hurricane season, and it’s always a fun night.
Costumes are encouraged and prizes will be awarded. In addition, there will be live music and plenty of antics.
The Windmill Bar will kick off Halloween week with a Mad Hatter Party on the 24th. There’s Halloween BINGO on 10/ 26 and their first-ever Haunted House on 10/30 and 10/31 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.. On the 31st, enjoy their Spooky Sunset with live music and SCARYOKE at Upstairs Bar.
The Beach Bar will host its annual Halloween Party on October 31st from 7:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. with live music and the Parrot Club has planned a spooktacular Halloween night with DJ LS1, costume contests and a prize giveaway.
On St. Thomas:
St. Thomas Ghost Tour: While scary stories and ghoulish stories aren’t limited to Halloween, this is a great time to head to Fort Christian and indulge on their 2-hour ghost tours. Local guides will captivate you with plenty of spooky tales and interesting folklore.
Trunk or Treat Events: Don your costumes and head to the WICO Dock (near Pier 22) in Havensight on Sunday October 26th between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. for all the family-friendly festivities – candy, music, contests, and prizes. The event is hosted by the Virgin Islands Police department and everyone is welcome.
Additionally, on Thursday October 31st, there’s another similar event at Tutu Park Mall from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Starting at 6:00 p.m. on October 31st, there’s also a trunk-or-treat event supporting the Antilles Varsity Sailing Team at the St. Thomas Yacht Club called “The Haunted Mooring Field,” complete with games, food, drinks, and costume contests. ***Please note there’s a required entry fee for this event.
Fright Night at Joseph Sibilly Elementary: This local favorite runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on October 25th and includes games, arts & crafts, cupcake decorating, a haunted house, and music. Adults $5/ Children $3
Carve for a Cause at Lattes in Paradise: On October 26th enjoy a festive fall afternoon of carving pumpkins and going trick-or-treating while also raising money for Cancer VI. It runs from 1 to 5 p.m. and costs $60.
Halloween Night Party at Sapphire Beach Bar: This lively affair is adults only and runs from 7 to midnight on the 31st. Enjoy a live DJ, costume party, contests and specialty drinks.
Haunted Mansion Halloween Party at Hotel 1829: From 7 to 11 p.m. enjoy a haunted house, themed cocktails, a DJ, and costume contest. ($10/ entry)
Adult Masquerade Houl-O-Ween Ball at Antilles School: This is the island’s most glamorous event and it benefits the St. Thomas Humane Society. Think music, costumes, cocktails and a $1000 prize for best dressed.
XO Bistro’s Haunted Weekend: Enjoy a whole weekend of festivities at this establishment in Red Hook where good cocktails, plenty of chills and thrills, themed dinners, and spooky decor will be served up from October 31st until November 2nd.
The Haunted Hull at the Tap & Still: Enjoy all-night music with DJ Niko starting at 9i p.m., and come in costume. Prizes awarded for single and group attire.
Moonlight Mutiny – A Pirates & Plunder Halloween Party at Beach Club: On October 31st at The Beach Club at Buoy Haus anyone 21+ can partake in this pirate-themed extravaganza that includes haunting beats by DJ Kash, lots of dancing, rum cocktails, and costume contests including categories of “Best Dressed Pirate” and “Most Creative.” Festivities start at 8 p.m. and run until 11:00 p.m. for this fun event.
Haunted Manor: Trails From the Crypt at Antilles School: Tricks, treats and family fun are planned for this fundraiser hosted by the Antilles School to raise funds for the St. Thomas Humane Society. Activities run from 3 to 8:00 p.m. on November 1st and include spooky games, pet-friendly fun, and a $500 costume prize. Get tickets at: givebutter.com/tailsfromthecrypt
Get Your Groove On
Halloween costumes can range from favorite T.V. characters to monsters and ghosts, but if you’d like to stick to island-related themes, here are a few suggestions:
#1. Pirates – What could be more appropriate than channeling your favorite swashbuckler? Virgin Island history, after all, is full of pirate stories, so it’s a great way to celebrate island history as well as Halloween. We here at Stormy Pirates, of course, totally endorse this costume choice and just to be clear, there were more than a few women pirates back in the day (Go ahead, look up Anne Bonny or Mary Read) so it’s a perfect costume choice for anyone! Go ahead, find a loose shirt, some baggy trousers, and a pair of sturdy boots. Upgrade your look with an eye patch, bandana, and a sash or belt to carry your handy sword. Throw in a bit of gaudy jewelry and you’ve perfected the look! You might even consider stopping by the Stormy Pirates Boatique to grab a t-shirt or flag to enhance the theme!
#2. Moko Jumbie – This powerful symbol of Virgin Islands culture has its roots back in West Africa, where moko jumbies or stilt walkers were believed to have the ability to see evil spirits and act as protectors for their villages. Although you may not be talented enough to actually walk on stilts for an evening, the look of a Moko Jumbie is fairly easy to replicate. Put on an array of the most colorful, bright clothes you can find, wrap your face in white cloth or smother it in white makeup, don a pair of sunglasses, and finish the look with a cone-shaped hat and a pair of gloves. Without the stilts, some may guess you’re Freddy Krueger but you’ll fit in just the same.
#3. Mermaids, Sirens or King Neptune – The Virgin Islands are surrounded by the sea, so embrace the theme with these aquatic costume ideas. Mermaid costumes are actually a thing these days, but you’ll have to have someone pull you around in a wagon if you go 100% in on the idea of the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a fish. Or, you could just wear an ethereal, flowing gown to simulate the idea. Long hair is a must though, so grab a wig if you need to and accentuate those curves like Marilyn Monroe! If King Neptune (or Poseidon, the Roman equivalent of the Greek god) is more your jive, think uber masculine as this character is typically depicted as a bearded merman holding a trident. Thanks to SpongeBob SquarePants, different versions like the wild-haired, blue-green god or the balding, red-haired robed king have become popular. Either way, traditional or the animation version, look fierce, be bold and carry a golden pitchfork to solidify the look.
#4. Squids, Sharks, and Stingrays, Oh My! – With all the abundant sea life surrounding the Virgin Islands, there’s no shortage of fish-themed costumes to choose from. Whether you embrace the idea of a colorful reef squid, a menacing shark or even a giant manta ray, you’ll be a hit at any Halloween event. The list of possibilities are endless– from lobsters to parrot fish – so choose one of your favorites. Go costume shopping or find some colorful material and make your own creation. Better yet, make it a group affair and parade as a school of fish!
#5. The Walking, Talking Palm Tree – For the DIY-ers, why not turn yourself into a palm tree? Wrap yourself in brown paper or cloth, add a string of battery-operated Xmas lights, and crown yourself with some palm branches – real or man-made. It’s the standard symbol for the islands and no one will have to guess who or what you are. You might just be the one who gets the prize for being both original and predictable.
End Notes: We’d love to hear your own ideas about Halloween costumes, so shoot us some suggestions or send a picture of your creations. Here at Stormy Pirates, we’ll be operating boat days and tours as usual, but feel free to join us in costume if that sounds fun. We have plenty of rum punch to add to the festivities, and as always, we’ll lower the gang plank and welcome you in style.