The Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs the Hon. Yvette Swan has promised that this year's Culturefest will to be a "bumper event''.

The extravaganza, to be held on October 14 and 15 at Dockyard, will attempt to bring together the various cultures in Bermuda to experience and enjoy their differences, and unique heritages.

"It tends to bring everyone together through entertainment, culinary and artistic experiences'' explained Sen. Swan. "Hence this year's theme `Unity in the Community' is appropriate.'' This year locals and visitors alike will have 50 arts and crafts stalls to browse through, 45 entertainers and bands to applaud, and 23 different food stalls to sample.

Last year -- the first year for the event -- there were just 12 food stalls.

But this year, Sen. Swan said, there will be "everything from Chinese to Italian to Bermudian'' culinary delights.

Shoppers will be enticed by everything from handcrafted jewellry, to water-coloured paintings; and from glass-blown giftware to genuine Bermuda cedar goods.

Spectators will be treated to local dancers like the Portuguese Cultural Dancers and the United Production Dancers. Local bands such as Legacy and Jah Sound, and performers such as Shine Hayward and Lady Tyson will also be on hand.

The two-day event will also include martial artists displays, choirs like the Miracle Temple Choir, baton twirling from the High Steppers Majorettes, and a Calypso and Benetton Fashion Show.

A Beating Retreat by the Bermuda Regiment will close the event on the Sunday.

Sen. Swan said calypso and popular music groups will be performing mostly on Saturday while more gospel oriented groups will sing on Sunday.

And if all the local performers fail to entertain children, they will find amusement on the train rides and the fun castle.

Sen. Swan described the outlay of the event.

She said: "When entering the Festival area you will be met with the food tents, the entertainment will be in the middle and the Arts and Crafts will be at the other end,'' in front of the Shopping Centre, in Dockyard.

Last year's attendance was estimated at 7,500 on each day of the festival and Sen. Swan said she hoped for more this year.

Extra ferries will be put on and the buses will be running late, she said.

Police will be present to help control traffic and "there will be lot of parking, now that we have Malabar''.

Noting that the Culturefest only has one sponsor, the Bank of Bermuda, Sen.

Swan invited anyone who wished to assist to come forward.

The multi-cultural extravaganza will be held rain or shine, she added, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. both days.

Premier the Hon. David Saul is expected to officially open the event at noon on the first day.

The Hon. Yvette Swan