The Chamber of Commerce kicked-off its week long Chamber Festival celebration with a series of 'Wacky Races' down Front Street on Sunday.

Nine teams made up of retail, restaurant and hotel employees, together with members of the Chamber's executive board and Bermuda's Emerging Professionals (BEPRO) competed against each other in front of an amused crowd in three-legged relay races involving live mannequins, pitchers of water, and for some teams, multi-coloured wigs and surgical masks.

The teams included Pickled Tink (Pickled Onion), Dizzie Daisies & Mighty Mac (Daisy & Mac), BEPRO Bees, Chamber Maids, Fairmont Essentials (Fairmont Hamilton), The Tratt Boys (La Trattoria), Swine Flu (Hog Penny), Red Hot Chili Peppers (Latin) and Frame Works It (Frameworks Gallery).

Bruce Barritt served as the race commentator and MC for the afternoon, and after several heats there was only one minor casualty, with the Chamber's team two men down and Chamber president Stephen Todd and former president Philip Barnett stepping into the breach. Daisy & Mac came from behind in the final race to earn the honour of becoming the first 'Wacky Winners' and were presented with gifts courtesy of Gosling's, People's Pharmacy, The Restaurant Division, and Trends.

The afternoon included a holiday craft market at No.6 Shed packed with local vendors featuring an array of crafts and food items, such as the Bermuda Jam Factory, Bouquet Garni, Sunflower Company, Churchill's Cigars, Thomas Cooke, Joan Aspinal, Diane Amos, Scaur Designs, Native Spirit, Baubelles and D&T Bijoux among others.

Dangelini's, a café on Front Street run by three young entrepreneurs, served complimentary tea and a sampling of their tasty baked goods to a crowd of more than 500 people who came to see what was on offer.

Gosling's and Barritt's provided samples of their products, while Rhona Emmerson and her creative face-painting artists together with mini doughnuts by Dandy Donuts, free lollipops and colouring supplies from the Chamber staff and a children's slide kept kids entertained.

The Chamber had a table armed with its staff to help promote the week of festivities with a large $10 dining voucher on display (received for every $100 spent at participating merchants) and a book of menus from participating restaurants, which drew quite a bit of interest from those wishing to see all the fixed price three-course dinners on offer this week.

The Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. Todd and the heads of both the Chamber's retail and restaurant division addressed the crowd at the official launch of Restaurant Week and The Chamber Festival.

They talked about the partnership between the various organisations and members and reminded everyone about their sense of community, and the need for them to come out and support their local restaurants and retailers during the upcoming week by "dining out and shopping in".

The Chamber rounds out its week of festivities with a two-day shopping festival from November 27 to 28, which will incorporate the first annual Friday late night shopping event. Several retailers are providing special promotions and in store activities during this period. $10 dining vouchers will be given for every $100 spent in participating merchants during this period (redeemable up to December 3).

For a list of festival participants and Restaurant Week menus can contact the Chamber of Commerce at 295-4201 or visit the website at www.bermudachamber.bm