shopping slated to start this Friday.

More than 100 shops and restaurants will be taking part in the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas shopping and street festival which will run every Friday for four weeks, and then conclude on Thursday, December 23.

St. George's and Somerset will also host festival evenings.

This year will see a new festival element.

The Chamber has joined hands with the Salvation Army to put up a "gift-giving tree'', to be prominently displayed on all festival nights.

It will provide a convenient drop-off point for Santa's anonymous gifts, Chamber executive Mrs. Carolyn Mello said.

The number of businesses participating this year was "more or less the same'', she said. And Reid and Queen Streets would again be closed off.

Entertainment and a weekly festival draw with thousands of dollars worth of prizes would also be featured during the festival.

Shoppers can enter the festival draw by filling out a "Be a Winner'' coupon at participating businesses. Winners will be drawn weekly and announced in The Royal Gazette on New Year's Eve.

In St. George's, the festival takes place on Thursday, December 16 and December 23.

In Somerset, festival activities are scheduled for Saturday, December 18 only.

Opening festivities in Hamilton begin at 7 p.m. on Friday outside the library with performances by St. Paul's AME Church Choir.