If everything goes as planned, this May 24 Heritage Day Parade will breeze by spectators without a hitch.

Development, Opportunity, and Government Services Minister Terry Lister yesterday announced the remaining schedule of events of the 20th annual Heritage Month celebrations.

"What will make this year's Heritage Month memorable is that it will be much bigger compared to last year in which there were less than 40 entries,'' Mr.

Lister said.

Mr. Lister promised the celebrations will be "better than ever'' and said there were at least 25 floats and 65 entries lined up for the parade.

The biggest changes from last year are the creation of special dance areas, integrating Gombey troupes into the parade and grouping Carnival dancers and trucks at the rear of the parade.

Mr. Lister said there had been complaints in the past about large gaps in the parade as performers lagged at random stops along the route.

This year performers will be restricted to dancing at the Flag Pole, Cenotaph, Anglican Cathedral, and near Victoria Park, after the 2 p.m. start.

This will reduce the number of dance performances the average spectator will see, Mr. Lister said, but will ensure a free flowing event.

"The crowd do not have to go to the four dance spots, they can go to their favourite stops as they always have,'' Mr. Lister said. "They won't see them all. But one might see eight or ten of the dance groups as they do their routines.'' He added: "You might see half, but it will make for a smoother moving parade.'' The theme of Heritage Month is "Honouring our Elders'' to help commemorate the International Year of the Elderly Person.

The day's events kick off with the Heritage Cycle, in-line skating, and Junior Classic and Marathon Derby races in the morning, and activities at Bernard Park after the racers are in.

The parade will begin at 2 p.m. and is expected to finish at 6.30 p.m. It will make its way from the corner of Par-la-Ville Road and Church Street, onto Queen Street, along Front Street to Court Street, and on Court Street to Church Street.

After travelling west on Church Street, the parade will turn on to Cedar Avenue and into Bernard Park.

Marshals and the Bermuda Regiment Signal Corps will accompany the parade.

The parade's Grand Marshals will be Mayors of St. George's and Hamilton, Lois Perinchief and William Frith, respectively.

Terry Lister