The Town of St. George’s is celebrating its 402nd birthday
on Friday July 11, from
6-10pm with “PLOUGH – A Summer’s Evening in the Olde Towne”.
The volunteer organiser, Kristin White, said, ‘We often
acknowledge 1609 as the year Bermuda began, and definitely the stories of the
survivors of Sea Venture shipwreck who were able to thrive in Bermuda until
their departure in 1610 was a catalyst. And so in July 1612 a community of
people arrived on a ship called ‘The Plough’, and settled in St. George’s.
Four hundred and two years later, here we are!”
Ms. White says that the goal is to celebrate all that makes
Bermuda’s UNESCO World Heritage Town unique and special. St. George’s is the
oldest continuously inhabited English town in the New World.
The night will include special reenactments and tours at the
museums, and other historical sites, including Globe Hotel, Mitchell House, and
State House, plus events in stores, actors roaming about the town in period
dress, and a closing performance by the Bermuda Regiment Band and the Bermuda
Island Pipe Band at 9pm. A $10 wristband will get you access to the entire
event.
Kristin explains the pricing, “Earlier this year we visited
Colonial Williamsburg and saw that, while folks could walk throughout the town
freely, they needed a purchased pass to visit special exhibits and
performances. And, because we need to raise money for the museums in St.
George’s and cover some of the Plough costs, we decided we’d do a similar
thing. Everyone should feel free to come and walk around the town, go into the
stores, and see the performances that will be on the street. But to access the
museums, you will need the $10 wristband. And the net proceeds from the
wristbands will be split between all the museums.”
The wristbands will be for sale in St. George’s at the World
Heritage Centre, Mitchell House and at the St. George’s Visitor Information
Centre on King Square.
People can also purchase wristbands in Hamilton at the
Visitor Information Centre at Albouy’s Point ferry terminal.
She concludes, “People talk about St. George’s being ‘dead’,
and definitely the changes to the tourism sector have affected us here in the
East End. But we are staying optimistic. Entrepreneurs, museums, the
Corporation of St. George’s, The Bermuda Tourism Authority and community groups
are banding together to create events and programmes to bring residents and
visitors to the town. So for Plough we are celebrating our town, and our
‘never-die’ spirit that has kept us going for over four hundred years.”
This event is sponsored by Bermuda Department of Tourism,
Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, TOPS Limited and Orasi Group and
supported by the entire town of St. George’s.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/stgeorges.bermuda.revitalize and
click on Events, or call Kristin White at 705.1838.