WATCH out Bermuda! The Gina Spence Productions In Christ Street Festival is back, and better than ever.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the annual charity event showcasing the Bermuda Regiment and Pipe Bands and an impressive array of local acts, takes prominence on Court Street tonight, beginning at 6 p.m.

Proceeds from the four-hour event are to go in aid of the island's homeless.

"Our main objective is to assist people, especially during Christmas time and to also support those businesses in the Court Street area. We want to let people know there's some great shopping there," explained event organiser Gina Spence-Farmer.

Over the years Gina Spence Productions, a registered charity, has come to the aid of numerous other local charities, including the Salvation Army Shelter, Focus Counselling Services, Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) clients and those in the community who unfortunately have fallen on hard times.

"What we do is work very closely with the clients (recipients of donations). We just don't hand out money. We work both with the client and BHC and make the payment directly to them," she said.

"People have to earn it. It's not a situation where anybody can just say we need some money. They have to submit a letter and we have a special committee set up to review the letters and then we take it from there.

"But again, our main objective is to assist people, and we can identify those who are in dire need."

Tonight's event, which features two separate segments, will be broadcast live on Power 95 radio airwaves.

She continued: "We do offer hope and prayer and we will also be offering soup throughout the evening. So the street fest is there to also help people in the street who may be looking for a way out.

"There will be professional counsellors on hand for those who may be struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, and we do have connections with other agencies. We also have ministers there on site throughout the evening to assist in prayer."

Admission is free and the public has been invited to attend and donate to the worthy cause.

"We would like to encourage the public to come out, have a great time and make a pledge. And no pledge is ever too small," added Mrs. Spence-Farmer, who also praised both sponsors and her fellow committee members who have worked hard behind the scenes to bring the charity event to fruition.

"This year the committee have single-handedly organised, orchestrated and made this happen, and I'm very grateful for that," she said.

Also performing during tonight's show are Bermuda Salsa Breeze, Bermuda College Drama Team, tap dancer Mitchell Trott, Brother Ritchie, Hands of Faith, Septimus, Restoration Fellowship Dancers along with gospel singer Chris Terry.