Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Puerto Ricans Party in British Virgin Islands

Hundreds gathered in Virgin Gorda for the annual 'Christmas in July'

The hundreds of Puerto Rican flags that waved in the international waters of the Caribbean last weekend were the first indication of the Puerto Rican celebration in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), known as Christmas in July, which this year broke boat attendance records.

For more than 20 years—albeit more thoroughly organized in the past six—hundreds of boats sail from Fajardo and San Juan, mainly, to go to Pond Bay Beach in Virgin Gorda to celebrate a peculiar holiday festivity out of its regular season.

As in any Christmas party, this activity boasts music and drinks in a friendly, family-friendly environment, and even Santa Claus makes an appearance. Also present are Christmas hats and the jovial spirit that characterizes the occasion.

The main difference is that, because the event takes place in summer, the outfits are limited to swimwear and shorts, and the holiday’s scenes are the crystal-clear waters of this British island.

For Federico Gregory this was the eighth time he went to this party and he intends to follow the tradition. Ever since his daughter was born, it became a regular practice for him and the rest of his family.

“I have many friends here, many good things, very good vibes. After the hurricane the party’s connotation changed, because the people (the locals) know what it is to be a good Puerto Rican. We were here after [Hurricane] Irma and they realized the human being quality that we have,” he said.

Gregory added that they are known among the locals as the Puertorrican Navy because, due to the large number of boats, “we look like a fleet.”

While there are hundreds of Puerto Ricans who are repeat visitors, other attendees, such as Alejandro Fernández, enjoyed this event for the first time. Against all odds, the resident of San Juan came to the activity to unwind from stress.

“This is my first time here. The journey was difficult because the boat got damaged, but we are here now. I love the positive energy and that the children, my kids, are having a good time. I’ll come back next year,” he said.

This is the most successful year to date for the event, with an estimated 400 to 500 boats sailing directly from Puerto Rico and rentals, according to tourism officials.

“Puerto Ricans are our family. This is a tradition and we aim for it to remain this way. We love Puerto Ricans! We welcome them, and the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are a big family,” said the BVI’s Junior Minister for Tourism At Large Representative, Shereen D. Flax-Charles.

She added that some Puerto Ricans arrive as early as Tuesday and spend the entire week sailing their shores.

Charles stated that this event represents an important economic boost to the islands, given that attendees consume in local restaurants and businesses for several days.

Moreover, Sharon Flax-Brutus, the director of Tourism, informed that this year the celebration got extended with an activity in Nanny Cay, in Tortola, on July 26; the official event in Virgin Gorda, on July 27; and the after-party in White Bay Beach in Jost Van Dyke, also on July 27.

“What we want is for this to not be a single day, but an unforgettable experience around the attractions of this destination,” she said.

Dozens of boats that were present for Christmas in July stayed for the after-party.

The event is coordinated between business owners from Puerto Rico and tourism officials from the islands.

“It is an event that has broken all records this year. In Puerto Rico, it is a tradition to enjoy the last weekend of July in a small vacation and to spend time with family before the kids go back to school. With that in mind, we created a family event in Virgin Gorda to unite the entire nautical community,” said Wally Castro, one of the event’s organizers.


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×