New Dockyard event salutes our heritage

All things Bermudian are to be celebrated in a series of weekly heritage events in Dockyard starting this month.

Whether it’s cricket and Crown and Anchor or songs of the Talbot Brothers and the dancing of the Gombeys, our unique culture will be displayed in all its colours at the new Heritage Nights.

The weekly festivities take place in the Victualling Yard which used to be the heart of the naval operations in Dockyard.

The first of the events organized by Wedco and Select Sites takes place this Thursday and will run from 6:30pm until 8:30pm allowing time for people to catch the last ferry.

Each week there will be local vendors selling their arts and crafts while The Bermuda Garden by the Frog & Onion will feature a Crown and Anchor table and a shack for the tasting of locally brewed beers and Bermuda’s own Gosling rums. The Market Place will have merchants displaying their Bermuda-made products including watercolours, sea glass jewellery, Bermuda hats, banana dolls, cedar frames, condiment jams. A local band will be playing the songs of The Talbot Brothers for the opening Heritage Nights this Thursday.

In the Victualling Yard there will be areas of interest covering local architectural and visual elements including Bermuda style walls and chimneys reminiscent of the island’s country lanes. There will be carnival style games such as Ring Toss, Tic Tac Toe and Knock-Down for the children and chess, chequers and dominoes for the adults.

Locals and tourists alike are bound to learn something new about the island’s history, culture and heritage. There will even be train tours to the National Museum of Bermuda and up through Commissioners House and down the ramparts.

Joanna Cranfield, assistant business development manager for Wedco, said that regular nights celebrating the island’s rich and diverse cultural heritage is new for the island.

“We’ve always traditionally held Destination Dockyard (relaunched as Royal Naval Night) on Monday evenings to cater for the fact we have two cruise ships on a Monday evening but this year we have had even more ships coming in a Thursday so we thought that the time was right to introduce another event.

“There isn’t another ongoing event of that nature — it’s a great family event and a great way for our visitors to learn of our culture.

“While some of the acts will play each week there will be some variety in the entertainment and vendors from week to week.”

For information on each week’s line-up visit www.thewestend.bm or visit Royal Naval Dockyard on Facebook.