Sights, sounds and sensory sensations -- that's the promise the West End Development Corporation (Wedco) holds out for this weekend's giant Culturefest at Dockyard.

With its theme, "Unity in the Community,'' the two-day extravaganza will bring to the old Royal Naval environs a massive, multi-cultural experience reflecting the Island's diversified community.

"Although we are a community of varied backgrounds, heritage and interests, we can all come together in a feeling of community and enjoy the diversity.

That is very important,'' said food co-ordinator Mr. Edward Bottone. "The theme, `Unity in the Community,' really works.'' Thus, from morning to night over two days, Culturefest will offer the sounds of more than 200 performers and entertainers; fascinating taste experiences from 20 different food stalls; the colourful creations of over 40 resident artists and craftsmen, and miles of smiles from an anticipated 5000 spectators.

The Oxford dictionary defines culture as "the arts and manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively,'' and Wedco, as overall co-ordinators, have cast their net far and wide throughout the community to involve as great an ethnic mix of participants as possible.

Thus, the strolling spectator can expect to enjoy everything from Greek, Chinese, Italian and West Indian food to gospel, soca and rock; airbrush art to antique button jewellery; hooked rugs to handcrafted jewellery; antiques to an African village.

As food co-ordinator, Curious Cook Mr. Bottone has drawn together more than 20 different participants, each of whom will operate their own booth.

"Because food is such a big part of any culture, and the last thing that any culture abandons after language and costume, food is one of the three main elements of this event. The other two are arts and ethnic entertainment,'' he explained.

Mr. Bottone said that an arcade of booths will stretch along the parade in front of the Clocktower building, as well as along its eastern side. The public will purchase tickets in increments of $1 and use them to buy food.

"Portions will be more than a taste but less than a meal so that people can sample a lot of things,'' Mr. Bottone noted.

Unusually, unused tickets will be refunded.

The food co-ordinator said he had endeavoured to get a broad mix of food booth operators involved.

"We did not restrict all of the food to ethnic cuisine, although we tried to get as many of the various cuisines represented in our society and culture involved,'' he explained. "Because the field was open to everyone -- restaurants, associations, clubs and individuals -- we will have everything from jerk chicken to octopus stew, souvlaki, curried goat, pizza and pasta, barbecued chicken and tuna, and chocolate mousse.'' Totally Tuna, operated by members of the Fishermen's Committee, will not only serve the popular fish, caught and freshly cooked by the fishermen themselves, but will also host a Japanese chef demonstrating the sushi method of tuna preparation.

Sandys Secondary School PTA will do the honours on hamburgers, hot dogs and fries, while Linda Pitcher will dish up such Bermudian favourites as mussel pie and hashed shark.

The Portuguese Cultural Association and the West Indian Association are other food booth operators.

Two sound stages will cater to the long line-up of musicians and singers who will be appearing each day. One will be set up near the Clocktower Mall, and the other in the Victualling Yard.

The Clocktower area entertainment will take place each day between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m., and in the Victualling Yard from 12 noon to 6 p.m.

Entertainers include Pinky Steede, Jahstice, the Bermuda Strollers, Soul Touch, Lady Tyson and Island Fever, the Somers Isles Jazz Band, Black Family Productions Band TNT, Ron Lightbourne and Legacy.

Gospel groups include the Miracle Temple Sunbeam Choir, the Devonshire Community Choir, Dedicated and Choral Dynamics.

There will be poetry readings by Optimistic (Glenn Iris, Shirley Rogers, Carlos Symonds, Pearl Fox) and presentations by the Portuguese Cultural Dancers, the Empress Mennen Dancers, the Uniquely Combined Drill Team, the Warwick Majorettes, Warner and H & N gombeys.

Fashions will include Versatile Vests and African fashions.

Emceeing the two-day entertainment programme will be Rizlamatic, Leachie, Glenn Blakeney, Cleveland Simmons, and Darren (Butch) Burchall.

The Bermuda Regiment Band and Bermuda Islands Pipe Band will bring down the curtain on Culturefest 1994 on Sunday at 9 p.m. with a colourful Beat Retreat ceremony.

More than 40 local artists, authors, craftsmen and art galleries will set up shop in the Victualling Yard to display their wares and demonstrate everything from candle craft to cedar painting, stamp crafts, floral designing, soft toy and wooden crafts, and home-made African clothing.

Such well-known resident artists as Diana and Eric Amos, Carole Holding, Emma Mitchell, Robert Bassett, Sheila Semos and Rhona Emmerson will be present, as well as members of the Bermuda Society of Arts.

Kelly Hooper will show Bermuda bonsai trees, Earlene Lindsay airbrushed cakes, Carol Ann Tungate hand-crafted jewellery, and Jessica Kriendler silk scarves and paintings.

There will also be glassblowing demonstrations, a banana doll workshop, and much, much more.

An African village, erected by the Moslem and Hebrew Israelite communities, will be sited at the Terrace Pavilion, as will special attractions for children.

A special Culturefest '94 T-shirt, colourfully designed by Jill Bascombe, will be sold for $10, the profits from which will be given to the fund established to build a cultural centre.

A number of food stalls have indicated they will also be donating to this fund.

Admission to Culturefest will be free, and there will be plenty of parking within Dockyard.

"The entire south basin, all Dockyard areas, the north arm and Sallyport have been reserved for parking,'' Wedco spokesman Mr. Bryan Darby confirmed.

However, to ease congestion, organisers are urging the public to carpool and use public transportation wherever possible.

Throughout Saturday and Sunday, extra buses will be laid on, and on Sunday, in addition to the regular ferry service, a special ferry will operate a direct service between Hamilton and Dockyard from 11 a.m. Normal fares will apply.

In an effort to avoid back-ups and speed the flow of traffic, Police officers will be on duty to direct motorists through a new, one-way system from Pender Cut.

Culturefest is a joint effort by the West End Development Corporation, the Ministry of Culture and Community Affairs, and the Bank of Bermuda Ltd., and is expected to become an annual event.

Wedco's Mrs. Miranda Gilbert is the overall co-ordinator, while Mr. Gladwyn Simmons is co-ordinating the entertainment, Mr. Bottone the food, and Mrs.

Jeanne Pare m the arts and crafts.

"Wedco is honoured to host the first ever Culturefest at Dockyard, and we are looking forward to a very successful event,'' Mrs. Gilbert said. "The co-operation between everyone working on this project has been fantastic. As a result we have lined up a wonderfully diverse programme with something for everyone.'' And if the weather is bad? "Culturefest will take place rain, blow or shine. We're geared up for whatever happens,'' Mrs. Gilbert promised.