St. George's Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(St. George's, Bermuda)

The annual events calendar of St. George's is chock full of celebrations that give tourists plenty of things to do during their visit. Although many of the major festivals are staged in Hamilton, most tend to bleed over into St. George in varying degrees.

Events range from film and music festivals, to deeply cultural observances that have taken place around Bermuda for literally centuries. Tourists planning a trip to St. George's should look over the month's activities before finalising any travel plans, as a visit that coincides with a festival can be all the more enriching.

St. George's Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Day - January 1st, a national holiday in Bermuda, when locals and holiday makers take it easy after the revelry and partying the night before
• Annual Bermuda Bridge Tournament - late January, bridge players from around the world ship up each January for this prestigious tournament

February

• Love Festival - February 12th to 14th, Bermuda's Valentine's Day event includes a line-up of romantic concerts and parties. Romantic bed and breakfasts around the parish tend to offer special promotions at this time of the year
• Bermuda Festival of Performing Arts - this world-class performance has been running for some three decades and includes all kinds of theatre, concerts, dancing and comedy

March

• Bermuda International Film Festival - the island's premier film fest screens feature films, shorts and documentaries in cinemas and theatres across the island
• Bermuda Magic Fest - fans of magic and illusion enjoy exhibitions and workshops in St. George's and Hamilton during this event

April

• Beating Retreat Ceremony - held for several centuries, taking place every year between the months of May and October. Visitors can expect to see numerous parades and concerts
• Good Friday - Bermudians partake of hot cross buns and traditional codfish cakes. You will also see lots of kite flying all over the island

May

• Bermuda End-to-End - this originated as a walk-the-island event each May, but today's participants also swim, pedal and paddle their way around the coastline
• Bermuda Day - May 24th, the main event (a parade) is in Hamilton, but St. George's has its own boat races around the local harbour, watched by large crowds of spectators

June

• Heroes Day - third Monday each June, what began as a celebration of the queen's birthday is now an all-around Bermudian fiesta. This national island holiday was first held in 2008 and always draws a good crowd

July

• Emancipation Day - late July, marks the official date when freedom was granted to slaves in Bermuda. Emancipation Day was formerly named Cup Match Day, since it marks the first day of the Cup Match cricket game
• Somers' Day - late July, celebrates the founding of the second British colony in the New World, when Admiral Somers shipwrecked here. This also marks the second and last day of the popular Cup Match

August

• Mambo Nights - a dance exhibition and competition takes place in the Mid-Ocean Amphitheater
• International Sand Sculpture Competition - this is a fun event for families and amateur sandcastle builders alike, with cash prizes awarded to the most impressive sand sculpture created on this day

September

• Labour Day - early September, celebrations take place all over Bermuda, with a major parade in Union Square in neighbouring Hamilton. Labour Day was established in 1982 and has been held every year since
• Bermuda Music Festival - late September, a trumped-up event drawing well-known reggae performers to St. George's

October

• Gombey Festival - the Gombey dance is from West Africa, and its role in Bermudian culture is celebrated every October at the City Hall car park in nearby Hamilton

November

• Rugby Classic - rugby teams and diehard fans pour into St. George's and Hamilton at this time
• Remembrance Day - November 11th, heroes from past wars are honoured with a parade and a memorial services. Remembrance Day celebrates the disproportionately heavy role Bermuda's soldiers played in WWII

December

• Christmas - St. George's is a delightfully quaint place to celebrate Christmas and Boxing Day (national island holidays). Local shops and pubs hold special events leading up to the holiday season
• New Year's Eve - December 31st, visitors to Bermuda will be able to enjoy some wonderful New Year's Eve celebrations. This parish is where it all happens at midnight, with spectacular fireworks over the harbour. Visitors can also expect some fun tomato pelting at the historic stocks on King's Square