Various cultures are coming together on Sunday for a cultural explosion of foods, dance, and arts and crafts at Culture Fest 96.

Close to 20 stalls of cuisine from West Indian and Moslem to Italian, Bermudian and Portuguese will be set up to offer members of the public a taste of each country.

And while your filling your stomachs an array of entertainment is lined up starting from 11 a.m. and ending at 7.30 p.m. with the Gombey's.

Organiser of cuisine side of the day "Curious Cook'' Edward Bottone said the Culture Fest was a day to celebrate the ethnic diversity which makes Bermuda a wonderful place. "And it is a family day with no alcohol.

"The corner stone of the event is the Portuguese Cultural Association. They will have a food and culture stall,'' Mr. Bottone said.

He added: "I believe that food is culture.'' Cafe Acoreano will be serving Portuguese sweets and the Italian community will be represented by La Trattoria.

The West Indies and Jamaican dishes will be represented by the Jamaican Grill, Yardies Variety and Atlantic Paradise and the Wok will serve up Chinese food.

Mr. Bottone said the Bermuda Chefs Association will create a mini Octoberfest with German delicacies. And the Moslem community will also be taking part with their tasty dishes.

The US will be represented, food wise, by the Sonesta Beach Resort. And there will be Bermudian delights by the Freeport Gardens and Bermuda-made products like Matt Man's pasta, and Dismont's Caesar salad dressing will also be available for purchase.

And let's not forget everybody's favourite, fish and chips. Reginald Chase will have Bermuda fish on hand.

Kids can enjoy the every day hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy and snow cones.

Mr. Bottone said there will be about 20 different vendors participating.

"People need to embrace our differences rather than fear them because a diverse culture community is more exciting, vital, productive and tasty. And you can learn a lot about other people through their food and music.

"It will be a real opportunity for people to acquaint themselves with new flavours and to possibly experience culture through organisations and businesses that they may be unaware of.

"But mostly, it will be fun for all the family, an occasion for celebrations especially when you get people together over food.'' He added that the food booths will be spread out in front of the Clocktower.

And the arts and crafts tables will be nearby.

"It's going to be a great day.'' Special event coordinator for Wedco Miranda Gilbert said: "We have a nice variety of entertainment lined up and we will be starting our day at 11 a.m.

going on until 7.30 p.m. "We will be having cultural dancing and singing, some gospel of course lots of jazz centred around the Jazzscape artists such as Gita Blakeney, Dennis Fox and Legacy.'' Ms Gilbert said the evening will close with the Bermuda Pipe Band and the Gombeys.

"There will be non-stop entertainment for the day and we will hopefully have a nice big crowd, of course the food will compliment the day,'' Ms Gilbert said.

She added that this was the biggest number of food participants the Culture Fest has ever had and along with that "we have our arts and crafts such as cedar displays, jewellry makers home arts and crafts people and top artists like Robert Bassett and Sharon Wilson.'' Ms Gilbert also reminded the public that there will be a one-way system into Dockyard along Pendor Road and traffic will exit along the navy dock.

In front of the Clocktower will be blocked off and traffic will be routed behind the Clocktower behind the boat yard. There will be extra buses but no extra ferries.

And she added: "The event will go on rain or shine.'' The schedule for entertainment is as follows: 11 a.m. - Ron Lightbourne 11.30 a.m. - The Right Stuff 12 p.m. - Diamonds in the Rough 12.30 p.m. - Portuguese Dance 1 p.m. - West Indian Association 1.30 p.m. - Bermuda Boot scooters 2 p.m. - Gita Blakeney 2.30 p.m. - Dennis Fox 3 p.m. - Cassandra Wilson 4 p.m. - Legacy 4.30 p.m. - Empress Mennin Dancers 6 p.m. - Dynamic City Rockettes 7 p.m. - Bermuda Pipe Band 7.30 p.m. Places Gombeys