unforgettable occasion and is inviting everyone to celebrate.

Its plans include live concerts through the summer at venues from Front Street to the back of town.

Also planned are an art exhibition, parade, street festival, sail-past, some challenging competitions and a grand-finale music fest with a celebrity appearance and fireworks.

Though Hamilton today is a far cry from what it was 200 years ago, it is still run the same way, Corporation secretary Mr. Roger Sherratt noted yesterday.

Hamilton was created by an Act of Parliament on June 29, 1793, which set up a nine-member Corporation of Hamilton.

To celebrate its bicentennial, an ambitious schedule of events is planned, Mr.

Sherratt said. The Corporation had to hire the services of a local firm to help it raise funds to finance all the activities, some of which have already taken place.

He said the Heritage Advisory Committee had agreed to make "Hamilton: Our City and Her People'' the theme of the annual Bermuda Day parade on May 24.

And the Bermuda National Gallery is planning an exhibition of early photographs of Hamilton.

Mr. Sherratt said more concerts were planned for Victoria Park in the summer due to an enthusiastic response to them so far.

The major events will take place from June 27 to July 4, with a gala banquet for dignitaries and special guests to celebrate Hamilton's birthday on June 29.

The week will kick off with church bells ringing through Hamilton, followed by a parade of old and modern vehicles, including horse-drawn carriages and pedal bikes.

Later in the day there will be a "sail past'' in Hamilton Harbour and a calypso and reggae concert.

During the week, youth groups will be invited to perform on the steps of City Hall.

A competition will be held in the schools in which student groups will be asked to list items they would like to put in a time capsule.

The students with the best list will be invited to bring the items to City Hall where they will be sealed in a box to be opened when Hamilton celebrates her 300th birthday.

Residents have already been invited to enter an art and essay competition. A concert especially for senior citizens is planned for Number One Shed. Events on July 3 include a street festival and a concert on Court Street.

On July 4, a grand-finale music festival will be held, featuring a "spectacular'' fireworks display and a surprise celebrity appearance.

Mr. Sherratt said all the events would be free. "We wanted to come up with a wide variety of activities so there is something for everyone and the whole city is involved,'' he said.

"And we wanted the celebrations to be unforgettable to both Bermudians and our visitors -- 200th birthdays don't come around that often.''