Seven years after Harbour Nights began in Hamilton, vendors insist that the initiative is worthwhile and profitable while visitors and locals give the scheme "two thumbs up''.

Several vendors filled Front Street and its sidewalks on Wednesday night, while most stores remained open for the event which runs from 6.30 p.m. until 10 p.m.

A number of performances were given at the flag pole to entertain the large mix of visitors and locals.

"It's hard to find something for the family to do together in Bermuda,'' said one local couple.

"You can't take the kids to Docksiders and here there is a nice atmosphere.'' Visitors hailed the Harbour Nights celebration as a successful event filled with good times.

"I think it's great,'' said a Canadian businessman on vacation.

"Probably good for business as well.'' He added that he was on his sixth trip to the Island and used Harbour Nights to find goods in the stores that he planned to buy later.

"I'm on recon,'' the businessman said. A visiting couple, who had been watching the events from the cruise ship Horizon , were all smiles.

"This is great. It's lots of fun,'' said Candy Geiler, who was vacationing with her husband Bill from North Carolina.

"Yes. Definitely two thumbs up,'' added Bill.

Some members of the public called for more street performers.

"I do think jugglers, singers and that kind of stuff would make it more festival-like,'' said one man.

Two local boys said Harbour Nights had become something "for the tourists''.

"No youth come anymore because it's boring,'' they said.

The boys said Harbour Nights needed more variety in performances and vendors needed to sell more locally-made goods, though both admitted they did not have the money to purchase them.

Herman Anderson, who sells his own hand-carved cedar souvenirs, said business was going well and he would be prepared to sell on other nights if Harbour Nights became more frequent.

But he agreed with the boys, saying the flavour of the merchandise needed to be more Bermudian.

"The tourists are looking for stuff made in Bermuda,'' said Mr. Anderson.

"Some of the stuff is brought in and that's not really what they're looking for. They're looking for stuff to remind them of Bermuda.'' Artist Diana Amos, who sells her paintings along with those of her husband and daughter, said that business had not really changed over the past few years and added that, while many people were browsing, others were buying.

At Crisson's, saleswoman Sandra Paynter agreed that the initiative was profitable for the store, though one night a week was enough without wearing people out.

Street merchant June Brown, who sells home-made crafts, said, while the business was worth her while, vendors on Front Street could do with more light to display their products.

However, one merchant, who did not wish to be named, said he would probably not participate in Harbour Nights next year. He said, during his first season, the effort required to sell semi-precious stones every week was not worth the return.

"If the returns were better, I think I would come back next year,'' he said, "but I have a very demanding day job and this is incredibly time-consuming. I find that all I do is work.''