Carnival on St. John each year is a week-long event, ending on July 4th. Actually, for the whole month before, there are events leading up to the celebration. Carnival celebrates USVI Emancipation Day and the culture of the Virgin Islands. July 4th, the last day, begins at 4AM with Jouvert. Trucks and trailers with multiple amps and speakers ride through town blasting music, as people follow behind dancing and celebrating. There's usually a large amount of alcohol involved! The parade begins around noon and lasts for about five hours. Troupes decorated in elaborate costumes dance the streets, showing off and celebrating. At 9PM, fireworks are set off from the barge that pulls out in the main harbor. The whole island shuts down on the last day of Carnival (mostly for the whole week) and everyone takes the day to go to the beach or to the festivities. After experiencing this for two years now, it's a unique event that is unlike anything I know of in the state--except for Mardi Gras, maybe.