Virgin Islands rings in the New Year

As midnight struck on Jost Van Dyke on New Year’s Eve, fireworks exploded over Great Harbour and a loud cheer rose from a crowd that extended from Foxy’s Tamarind Bar to the water’s edge.

Darren Jones, Foxy’s food and beverage manager, said the annual “Old Year’s Night” party drew a strong turnout of about 3,000 people, which he attributed to the island’s attitude and hospitality.

“The carefreeness, man,” Mr. Jones said. “No limitation: We don’t judge. Everybody has an open spirit; everybody is happy. I think that’s the biggest part of it.”

As usual this year, the Jost Van Dyke event was among the largest in a wave of celebrations across the Virgin Islands that included fireworks, live music, food and drink.

Major parties were held at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, in Trellis Bay, on Virgin Gorda and elsewhere, while other residents rang in the New Year at church.

Jost Van Dyke

At Foxy’s, dinghies floated right up to the shore and yacht guests joined the crowds walking from the ferry dock.

Restaurants and vendors lined the roadside selling conch soup, johnny cakes, salt fish and patties. Foxy’s gift shop swarmed with visitors browsing t-shirts with beers in hand as people drifted between the dance floor and the outdoor concert area.

Shari Grefit, a lawyer from Bellmore, New York, gushed at the bar about her visit to Jost Van Dyke with her husband and son — the first of many, she hopes.

“We are just so excited to be here,” Ms. Grefit said. “We’re enjoying the people, the food and just the vibe. Foxy’s has been a bucket-list item.”
Ms. Grefit and her family were enamoured with the friendliness of residents and the relative safety of the island, where her son made friends with local children and had been biking with them almost every day.

“How great is it to have a pen pal on Jost?” Ms. Grefit said.

Sana Blyden, a 46-year-old resident of Jost Van Dyke who runs Sana’s Trinkets and Things, was selling homemade crafts and jewellery.

“This is a spot to meet new friends,” she said. “A lot of people meet new people on this island, and they remain. There’s people who have met people here 20- something years ago and they’re still coming back together because of the friendship.”

By late evening, Foxy’s was buzzing with the reverb from the speakers and the $10 painkillers served at breakneck pace as the crowd danced to live performances from Mishka, Greenhouse Band, Pumpa, DJ Dean, Lips International, and The Housewives of St. John.

Customers packed the dance floors and bars, spilling out onto the sand and docks when the midnight fireworks were launched from a distant boat.

“We started off really slow, but we finished the year on a good note,” Mr. Jones said. “We had a good crowd. I think everyone was happy, and we met expectations.”

Across the VI

On Tortola, the “All That Glitters” New Year’s Eve party at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park also drew nearly 3,000 people, according to TPPL Deputy CEO Zoe Walcott.

The show, which kicked off around 8 p.m., consisted of two sets — one on a main stage and another near the cruise ship dock for ages 25 and up. When midnight struck, fireworks lit the night.

“It was fun and different,” Ms. Walcott said. “The energy was phenomenal. People were enjoying themselves.”

The show also featured performances by DJ Carly, Signal Band, Klimaxx, Carly Cartel, VIBE, Razor Blades and others.

Ms. Walcott said the pier park staff is already preparing for next year’s celebration.

As usual, another major party was held at Trellis Bay on Beef Island, where performers included Selecta Taz, VC Tyga, Boss and Mac Milli. A fireworks show and water display came at midnight.

“Our main goal was to have a family-friendly event where everyone can come out and have a good time,” said Molly Penn-Maduro, events manager at Trellis Bay Market Bar and Grill. “A safe event as well. We had no incident. It was all just fun, everybody just enjoying themselves ringing in 2026.”

Ms. Penn-Maduro said the party drew about 1,500 people.

On Virgin Gorda, the Rock Cafe in Spanish Town held a “Rock the Clock” event that included a full-course menu and live music headlined by Thea Cooke and DJ Quanie, with performances by DJ Millennium King and Too Smooth Band. Other parties were held in North Sound.

Tortola

Other residents rang in 2026 at church.

At New Life Baptist in Duffs Bottom, nearly 300 people attended a service that started at 9 p.m. and included time for congregants’ testimonials about why they are grateful for 2026 and their hopes for the coming months, said Pastor Jovan Cline.

“It was good. New Year’s and Old Year’s is one of the things when you know people are going to show up to church,” Mr. Cline said. “People are going to want to start their year off right in the way that they see it, and it’s consistently festive and well supported, and this year was no different.”

After the service, many attendees went next door to Save the Seed Energy Centre for bowling, food and dancing.

The same night in Baughers Bay, the New Testament Church of God International Worship Centre concluded its three-night “End of Year Revival and Watch Night Service.”