take place this weekend.

A boat parade organised by the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute will set sail from the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club at 6.30 p.m. tomorrow.

The procession will make its way along the waters off Front Street to the Princess Hotel, where it will cross Hamilton Harbour to Salt Kettle and then along the Harbour Road shoreline back to the Dinghy Club.

Boats of all sizes will be included in the event and they will be decorated with lights, holiday decorations, figurines, and in some cases animated and live characters. The parade will be almost two miles long, with more than 1,000 people aboard the 60 participating boats.

At the head of the parade will be the Marine & Ports buoy tender Dragon , with its fire hoses spraying 70 feet into the night sky lit up in holiday colours.

The evening's entertainment will be rounded off with a fireworks display from White's Island, due to start shortly after 8 p.m.

Spectators are expected to turn out in thousands.

"For the best views, we are suggesting the public watch from the flagpole on Front Street, Albouy's Point or Harbour Road,'' said BUEI spokesperson Chris Heslop.

"For those planning to watch the parade from their own boats we are creating special on-the-water spectator areas inside the parade route. With 60 parade boats in the Harbour at night we are making a special appeal for all boaters to follow marine safety regulations at all times and to listen to the instructions of the parade marshals.'' In addition, Mr. Heslop emphasised how important this event was for the Island's tourist industry.

"The tremendous public support we have received this year leads us to believe that the BUEI Boat Parade will become an annual fixture on the Christmas calendar. And as publicity about this year's parade spreads, we believe it will become a major attraction for Bermuda's holiday visitors.'' The parade is sponsored by XL, Bacardi, the Ministry of Government & Community Sevices and Holmes, Williams & Purvey.