An educational and cultural programme with an idea to bring locals and visitors together in St. George's has been set up to encourage all to learn about the historical side of the old town.

Heritage Nights is an effort organised by the Chamber of Commerce and the Corporation of St. George's. It aims to teach people more about Bermuda today by looking at the Island's past.

Cyanne Thomas of the Chamber of Commerce said Heritage Nights, every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. beginning today, involves the entire town of St.

George's in terms of activities and vendors.

"There will be a different theme each week and we have asked craft and food vendors to dress in period costumes,'' Ms Gibbons said.

She added: "The event, which is supported by the department of Tourism, the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs and the Mayor of St. George's Henry Hayward with lead sponsor BF&M Insurance, is geared toward families and children but there are things like historical walking tours, historical re-enactments, and entertainment which is a Bermuda quality which will change from one week to the next.

"On opening night there will be things going on all the time but the featured entertainment will be the Legacy band. There will be a special mini- walking tour for children which will culminate at the Deliverance on Ordnance Island and then there will be a historical puppet show on board the replica with story telling featuring how Bermuda was discovered and how the Deliverance was built.'' Ms Thomas also said there will be a regular tour that will go around the town using professional guides and part of that tour will have a Tom Moore character standing at Tom Moore's statue in front of the Bridge House and he will be reading poetry.

"Another activity happening that the kids will be excited about is face painting and free tattoos will be given to the first 50 kids on the Square. We will still have our fun castle and train rides over to Ordnance Island,'' Ms Thomas said.

She added that the vendors will be concentrated on the Square with food and crafts. "Then amongst all of this activity we have our pirates Hook and Bates and their role is entertaining the children and the visitors. They will also announce the children's activities.

"The one entirely new event this year is .. is a scavenger/treasure hunt.

It will only take place once a month and participants will be encouraged to use a list of clues and a map to answer historical questions as they go around the town and each time the hunt takes place there will be prizes for winners.

It is really an awareness programme.'' During the opening night ceremony, at 8.45 p.m., the Mayor of the town and the Chamber of Commerce will open the event then "we will follow through with a historical reenactment which includes the use of the ducking stool and the whole evening will end with a performance by the Bermuda Gombeys,'' Ms Thomas said.

She added: "We all ordered costumes last year so those participating will be clothed in period costumes to add the authenticity to the event.

"We are trying to encourage the town to associate with the historical features, we want to create an environment of bringing history to life in that town.'' Ms Thomas also said: "We recognise that St. George's, as a town, is one of the oldest, if not the oldest historical sites in the western hemisphere and we see the significance of using our past and the value of that history to our advantage in the future.

"There is a real opportunity in the East End to develop cultural tourism and there are three ways we can do this: creating more historical events, highlight the historical features of the town the buildings, the lanes etc.

and we can also actually encourage the town's people themselves to focus more on the historical type products for retail such as handmade crafts, antiques, art work, ornaments etc.'' She added that the Chamber of Commerce had worked in cooperation with the Corporation of St. George's on events in the East End and it was decided that they were best capable of playing up on the more historical value of the town.

HERITAGE NIGHTS -- The town of St. George's will liven up on Tuesday nights with the birth of Heritage Nights aimed at educating locals and visitors about the historic town. Pictured left is organiser Ms Ciane Gibbons of the Chamber of Commerce and vice president of marketing and customer services for B F and M Insurance -- the event's lead sponsor -- Mr. Glen Gibbons.