All good things come to those who wait - and so it has proved for everyone who either missed the Smithsonian's Bermuda Folklife Festival on the Mall in Washington, DC last summer, or would like to experience it all over again. Beginning tomorrow, the entire event is being re-staged in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens in conjunction with the Agricultural Exhibition.

“This means that everyone in Bermuda will now have the opportunity to experience Bermuda the way many Bermudians and nearly one million visitors actually experienced it for two very special weeks last summer on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.,” said Government Public Affairs Officer and PR officer for Bermuda Connections: Homecoming, Mrs. Beverley Morfitt.

“We hope that (Folklife Festival 2002) will invigorate everyone in Bermuda with the desire to learn more about our culture and what it mean to be a part of our unique Island home.”

The festival will occupy the lower show ring area of the Botanical Gardens, and feature 26 topics housed in individual tents. Special site maps and large information panels will guide visitors to the various attractions. At each location, they will learn first-hand from Bermudians about the many facets of local life and culture - from its traditions to its arts, crafts, cuisine, architecture, construction, boat building, entertainment, and more.

Bermuda Programme Coordinator Ms Jackie Aubrey, stressed, however, that the festival is not a talent show, trade fair, or competition, nor is it just an exhibition.

“The Folklife Festival is what the Smithsonian Institution terms ‘a living museum'. It is a contemporary picture of our culture as it exists now, not after it has disappeared,” she said. “There are things we don't want to be lost, such as paper kites and the construction of a house. By talking to the people who are making kites, for example, Bermudians will get a sense of their importance in our overall culture, and hopefully there will be people who next year will make or buy a paper kite rather than a plastic bird kite.”

Since Bermuda's culture is a blend of many cultures, these too will be highlighted in various ways.

The Azores community is one example. In ‘The Kitchen' there will be demonstrations of Azorean cooking, while in the Family and Community area, crochet artist Miss Genevieve Escolastica will demonstrate and discuss Azorean needlework. Two Azorean religious feasts, the Holy Spirit Festival and Feast of the Lord Holy Christ of Miracles, will also be highlighted. Information and demonstrations will include how preparations are made for these events, including the decoration of homes, and the street procession. The Azorean Dancers will perform on the ‘Music Stage', while Festa traditions will be discussed in ‘Conversations on the Verandah'.

Continued on Page 36 Festival events guide on Page 34