This year’s Bermuda Day holiday, to be held for the first time on the last Friday in May, will be expanded over three days with plans to make it
Acting Minister for Cultural Affairs, Lovitta Foggo the plan moving forward is to “rebrand Bermuda Day to make it bigger and better and showcase new events and festivities that will engage the entire community”.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, she said: “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.
“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’, which will be shared over a three-day period on May 25, 26 and 27.
“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.
The deadline for participants in the 2018 Bermuda Day Parade is April 20. And once again, the viewing stand for dignitaries moves to the Leopard’s Club on Hamilton’s Cedar Avenue – “a historic venue for Bermuda”.
“The Leopard’s Club had its roots in a very different Bermuda – a segregated Bermuda,” said the Minister.
“And therefore 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.
She also encouraged local businesses to take part in the parade or sponsor a sports team, a school, or a non-profit organisation.
“In the coming weeks I will reach out to various sectors of our community to invite them to consider re-engaging with Bermuda Day, or to participate for the first time if they haven’t done so before,” she said.
“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!”
For more information on the history of Heritage Month and Bermuda Day, go to the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs website at communityandculture.bm.
