Heritage Nights are to return to the Town of St George next week after a decade’s absence. Businesses, restaurants and historic sites will welcome visitors on Friday nights.

George Dowling III, the Mayor of St George, said last night: “We took to reviving Heritage Nights, to engage both locals and tourists alike, to provide an experience in our town, to serve as a catalyst to promote St George and generate more excitement in our nightlife.”

Courtney Trott, town administrator for the Corporation of St George, said the popular fixture had ended when regular calls from the Norwegian Majesty cruise ship stopped in 2009.

Mr Trott added: “Businesses are coming on board. They all see tremendous opportunity in bringing this back to the town.”

He said the corporation “upped the ante this year” through a partnership with events organiser Pink Sand Entertainment for Heritage Nights.

Mr Trott added that the town’s Unesco World Heritage sites would open late and guests will be able to experience the cultural treasures of the East End at places such as the fort and the National Trust Museum.

Businesses will be open late with live music, tours, vendors, food, and a kid’s zone, which will operate from 7pm to 10pm.

Cyniqua Anderson, a councillor for the Corporation of St George, said: “Everyone makes the joke that you need a passport to come to St George. This year, you actually do.”

The free passports can be picked up from vendors, businesses and cultural sites from next week.

Visitors can get their passports stamped at each site they visit and later exchange them for raffle tickets in Kings Square for a prize draw.

Heritage Nights will run on July 12, 19 and 26, and on August 9, 16 and 23.

The festivities will include bands, DJs including Twinn Starr, DJ iBreeze, DJ Rusty G and dancers.

The Kings Band will open the festivities on July 12 and One Solution will perform at the final Heritage Night.