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For nearly half a century, Christmas morning in the Virgin Islands has begun not with wrapping paper, but with music — voices rising in harmony as the sun comes up over Emancipation Garden. That tradition continues this week with the 49th Annual Challenge of Carols, set for 5:45 a.m. on Christmas morning, bringing choirs, musicians, elders, and youth together once again in the heart of Charlotte Amalie.
Founded in 1976, the Challenge of Carols has long been recognized as the longest-running Christmas cultural celebration in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Hosted by Emancipation Garden Christmas Card, Inc. in partnership with the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, the event has endured through generations — shaped by music, storytelling, and a deep sense of shared community. Over the years, it has become a gathering place not just for performers, but for families who return year after year, often before dawn, to welcome Christmas together.
Organizers offered a behind-the-scenes look during this week’s newscast:
As a special treat this year, guests who arrive early will also catch the tail end of the Ten Sleepless Knights Foreday Morning Jump-Up — commonly known as the Foreday Tramp — which begins in the early hours of Christmas morning on St. Thomas and makes its way to Emancipation Garden just before the caroling begins. The crossover offers a rare moment where two beloved traditions meet, blending the energy of the road with the reflective tones of Christmas morning.
This year’s program will honor several individuals and groups whose contributions reflect the spirit of the season, including Howard Jones, Sara Connell, Lillian “Lilly” Moolenaar, the UVI Voices of Inspiration Choir, and the late Louis B. Taylor Jr. The morning will feature a wide lineup of choirs, soloists, musicians, and spoken-word artists, continuing a format that blends sacred music, cultural expression, and reflection. A longtime favorite, the Father Christmas Corner — hosted by the Petersen and Weekes families — will once again welcome attendees with holiday cheer.
For those unable to attend in person, the 49th Annual Challenge of Carols will be livestreamed on the Virgin Islands Source Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as on Legit TV and One Communications Channel 4, allowing audiences across the territory and beyond to take part. Organizers encourage residents and visitors alike to tune in early and share in a Christmas morning tradition that continues to unite the Virgin Islands through music, memory, and community.
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