Full Slate of Events For 2018 Three-Day Bermuda Day Holiday

The first annual Bermuda Day holiday to be celebrated on Friday, May 25th, with extended Bermuda Day holiday events on the upcoming three-day holiday weekend.

And since the change in Government, the Progressive Labour Party is taking the main VIP pavilion back to the Leopards Club, instead of Front Street in Hamilton.

This year’s line up promises to be a full and colourful events, starting early in the morning with the annual Bermuda Day Sinclair Packwood Memorial Cycle Race that starts at the west end this year at 8:50am.

The annual Bermuda Day Half Marathon Derby gets underway ten minutes later at 9am and finishes at Bernard Park.

The Heritage Junior Classic Race is scheduled to start outside Docksiders on Front Street in Hamilton at 9:45am.

From then on the focus moves to the annual Bermuda Day Parade, which gets underway at 1:30pm.

On Saturday, May 26 the set moves up to the west end when Bacardi presents ‘A Premier Night Club Experience at the Oracle Boat Shed in Dockyard.

That party gets underway at 10pm until 3am Sunday morning. Tickets are $75.

The event features international and live local entertainment, VIP lounges and bottle service.

Part proceeds will benefit The Chewstick Foundation.

Earlier this year in March, then Acting Minister for Cultural Affairs, Lovitta Foggo said plans were underway to expand the Bermuda Day holiday over three days.

Moving forward she the plan is to “rebrand Bermuda Day to make it bigger and better and showcase new events and festivities that will engage the entire community”.

“What we hope to create is the entire Bermuda Day Weekend experience that all residents of Bermuda, both Bermudians and non-Bermudians, as well as our visitors, can participate in and enjoy,” said Ms Foggo.

“Bermuda has so much to celebrate as a people, from sporting heroes to cultural icons, from an enviable climate to picturesque beaches and landscapes and we are arguably the friendliest people on earth.

“In 2018 we will begin to rebrand Bermuda Day to make it bigger and better and showcase new events and festivities that will engage the entire community.”

Bermuda Day falls on May 25 this year, and falls on May 31 next year.

The Bermuda Day theme this year, in keeping with Heritage Month, is ‘What We Share’.

“The theme enhances the notion that we share is far more important that what divides us. We are famed for our hospitality, our community spirit following a hurricane and our generosity as a people,” said Ms Foggo.

On moving the main VIP vantage point back to Leopard’s Club, she added: “I find it poignant that it now plays a prominent role in celebrating the diversity of our culture and also what we share as a people.

“My wish is for this to be the most dynamic and exciting Bermuda Day parade yet – celebrating the whole community. Since it’s a long weekend, we hope people will come out and support the participants. Lots of other exciting things are being planned for the long weekend – and we’ll let you know about those soon!”