SIMPLY SOPHISTICATED ‘26 COSTUME DROP SIMPLY SIZZLES
PHOTO CREDIT: Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe Inc/Facebook
St. Croix’s Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe, Inc., founded more than a decade ago by USVI Deputy Tourism Commissioner Shamari Haynes, dropped its costume selections this week for the 2026 St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival Adults Parade and it nearly broke the internet.
This year’s theme, “In Time’s Swing,” celebrates “life’s rhythm through the art of storytelling, expression, and creativity,” according to a message to followers on the organization’s Facebook page.
Revelers who plan to join the award-winning troupe on the road for the signature event of the festival season may choose from four costume categories: Thundra, Cinnamon Spice, Scorch Paradise, and Bella Bloom, which, when combined, creates a whimsical world where the four seasons collide in spectacular fashion to tell the story of carnival in St. Croix.
Registration is available on the Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe website.
Visit the organization’s Facebook page for more details and for complete photo albums of the costumes.
All photos are courtesy of Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe, Inc./Facebook. Costume designs are by Shamari Haynes. Makeup by Merle Wynter Beauty and The Beauty Box. Photography by Jun The Creative.
THUNDRA - Power in the Cold, Storm in the Soul
Step into the untamed force of "Thundra"—a winter spectacle where the stillness of ice meets the roar of a storm. "Thundra" is the strength of frozen landscapes and the beauty of snow in motion—cool to the touch, but charged with unstoppable energy. Inspired by sweeping blizzards, glacial shimmer, and the raw drama of nature’s winter stage, "Thundra" doesn’t just turn heads, she shakes the ground beneath them. It’s fierce. It’s fearless. It’s the electricity of festival wrapped in the elegance of frost. Bring the ice, bring the thunder—this is winter unleashed. —Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe, Inc.
CINNAMON SPICE - The Festival Flavor of Fall
Fall into the rhythm of the road with "Cinnamon Spice" — a rich, bold and irresistible celebration of autumn’s warm golden glow and festival’s wild soul. Inspired by the tradition of masquerade and incorporating the swirling leaves, earthy elegance and the rich colors of fall, this section blends autumn’s subtle glamour with festival’s untamed spirit. "Cinnamon Spice" is where sweet meets sassy representing autumn’s heartbeat with culture alive on the road. —Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe, Inc.
SCORCH PARADISE - Where Summer Ignites the Road
Blaze a trail through the heart of Frederiksted with "Scorch Paradise" — a sizzling celebration of summer in all its fiery glory. Motivated by sun-drenched days, golden heatwaves, and tropical nights, "Scorch Paradise" turns up the temperature with bold and unstoppable energy, capturing the raw heat and passion of the season. It’s the electric thrill of the road, the beat pulsing through your chest, and the freedom of dancing beneath the crisp festival sky. Step into the heat and set the road on fire with "Scorch Paradise". —Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe, Inc.
BELLA BLOOM - A Festival Ode to Spring
Step into the whimsical world of "Bella Bloom", where spring awakens in a breathtaking flourish of color, rhythm, and radiant joy. Inspired by the delicate splendor of the St. George Village Botanical Gardens, the section blossoms with the spirit of renewal and represents the moment nature’s gentle beauty dances in harmony with the jubilant soul of festival. Become a muse of the season, a living bloom in motion, echoing the laughter of petals and the heartbeat of celebration. Watch as spring’s grace enchants the senses and festival’s energy stirs the soul in a dazzling symphony of light, movement, and euphoria. —Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe, Inc.
