The City of Hamilton Centennial Celebration will go off with a bang, according to Corporation Secretary Roger Sherratt.

The June 22 celebration is the anniversary of the day in 1897 that permission was granted for the town of Hamilton to become a city.

The celebration 100 years ago included military parades through the streets.

This year's celebration will be an extension of the Concert in the Park series.

Mr. Sherratt said the concert, co-sponsored by the Corporation of Hamilton and the Bank of Butterfield, will be "one of the most outstanding concerts we've ever had.'' The two-and-a-half hour concert will feature the Bermuda Regiment Band, the Bermuda Philharmonic Choir, and the US Airways Jazz Band with a special appearance by music great Ben E. King.

Mr. Sherratt said Ben E. King's performance last year during the Concert in the Park series in Victoria Park attracted several thousand people.

In an effort to accommodate the predicted crowd of 8,000, the Centennial Celebration concert will be held at the City Hall car park.

"We will be closing off parts of Wesley and Victoria Streets for the occasion,'' said Mr. Sherratt, "and parking will be available at Par-la-Ville and Bull's Head.

"We encourage people to bring a picnic supper, but there will also be refreshments available,'' he added.

Mr. Sherratt also noted that festivities would include a city crier and a grand finale complete with cannons.

ANNIVERSARY ANN ENTERTAINMENT ENT