Bermuda's night festivals are a must for visitors who are short on time, but interested in experiencing as much as they can of all the Island has to offer.

Held Tuesday and Wednesday nights, in St. George's and the City of Hamilton respectively, the mid-week carnivals are popular with locals and tourists alike. But although both offer a cultural melange -- of foods, crafts and entertainment -- and share the same festive atmosphere, each festival is completely different in its lure. While Hamilton draws crowds as a community street fair, it is the historic charm of old St. George that prevails at the Eastern End.

Organised by the Chamber of Commerce, the festival is known as Harbour Nights in Hamilton. There, the collective efforts of merchants along Front Street (facing Hamilton Harbour) have made it a success, keeping their doors open to 9 p.m. Contributing to that success is the efforts of many of the Island's artists and musicians while the many food stalls scattered amid them only add to the effect.

In St. George's, where the Town's Corporation and the Bermuda National Trust have helped see the event to fruition, the festival operates under the name of Heritage Nights. Here, the unique, historically-themed night was designed as part of the community's `Bringing History to Life' heritage plan. The result is an authentic `Williamsburg-like' experience, bringing four centuries to life through the unification of all quarters of the Old Town in period music and costumes, re-enactments, walking tours and historic readings.

Both festivals are recognised successes in that they have established a distinct camaraderie between locals and visitors, according to Rhonda Joy of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce.

"Bermuda Harbour Nights is now in its 4th year and is enhanced with an exciting and improved shopping logo,'' she said. "Late night shoppers, crafters, local entertainers and visitors look forward to the Chamber's Harbour Nights.

"Harbour Nights recreates the spirit of friendship between locals and visitors therefore encouraging the awareness of, and an appreciation for, Bermuda's hospitality industry.'' Heritage Nights began as an important step in the revitalisation of the St.

George's community with the idea that it would allow both Bermudians and visitors to take maximum advantage of the attractions the Town has to offer and was an immediate success as hundreds of visitors from cruise ships joined with Bermudians -- many dressed in period costume -- for a night of street theatre, music, song and dance with history lessons thrown in.

Said Mrs. Joy: "Dressed in full period attire, the Town Crier (is) the host of an exciting and well-synchronised evening of historically-themed activities. The Mayor of St. George's, along with tour guides, shopkeepers, vendors, and historic play actors, are outfitted in period costumes and mingle with the crowds. Vendors in period dress, sell quality goods; piped music featuring sea shanties and old maritime songs fill the streets with sound.'' Re-enactments, plays and readings take place and two different walking tours, each beginning at the Town Square, offer a look at all the National Trust buildings in the area, ending with Rum Swizzles at Somers Garden.

Also included are slide presentations, run at the Town Hall every 15 minutes by a noted historian, bagpipers, muscial presentations, a pirate comedy skit, and Bermuda's traditional Gombey dancers.

The concept has been well received so far.

"It's my first time in Bermuda -- it's a lovely night and even the weather has just been perfect,'' said Edward Kerchavel, from Maryland, a passenger on the cruise ship, Song of America .

And husband and wife Miguel and Penelope Butterfield, from Devonshire, said the town was buzzing. "It all looks pretty exciting and interesting -- it's very relaxing after a hard day's work to come out and enjoy it,'' said Mr.

Butterfield.

Children's events and food stalls are also set up on Ordnance Island during the festivals which begin at 6 p.m. and run through October.

Face painting on Front Street during Harbour Nights in Hamilton