BRING the kids and take a trip around the world ¿ for $2.

This weekend Mount St. Agnes Academy (MSA), a private Catholic school, is putting on its annual bazaar with the theme of "Going Around the World".

The two-day festival, which starts today at 10 a.m., takes place at the school and MSA is inviting all of Bermuda to come out and have some fun.

Chris Coelho, chairman of the MSA Bazaar Committee, spoke about what it takes to set up the popular, family-oriented festival, saying: "We've been having the fair since the late 1890s.

"Nine months to a year in advance the Bazaar Committee meets and we decide what we are going to do in terms of the theme, figure out what games and activities we are going to have and then as we get closer to the event we get everyone together in terms of the volunteers working along with the parents and the teachers and the students."

The main purpose of the fair is to raise funds for the betterment of the school.

"The money raised goes to the physical plant, supplies, or anything else that is sorely needed," he said.

"Outside of tuition, the bazaar is the single largest source of revenue for the school. It is also the single largest event within the school year that brings everybody together.

"Because it is all run by volunteers it is another example of what we like to call the MSA family. It's great that everyone is working together for the betterment of the school and the children."

Typically, 5,000 people attend the MSA Bazaar.

"Our student body is 450 and over the course of the two days we will see several thousand people come to the event," said Mr. Coelho.

Speaking about some of the activities at the fair this weekend, Mr. Coelho said: "There is a wide variety of people that come and we cater to the family.

"We have adult games such as games of skill. We have a super slide which will be set up in the gym and we have an area in the upper courtyard that we call Kiddy Land, which has games and activities geared toward younger kids.

"We have bingo going on throughout the day; a wheel of fortune, plinko, mini golf, basketball, darts, face painting, ducking stool and numerous other games and activities. Basically, there is something for everyone at the bazaar."

The fun doesn't stop with the exciting games and activities and Mr. Coelho said there will be some great food available as well.

"We have all your basic fair food groups. We have hamburgers, hot dogs, pizzas, ice cream, cotton candy and popcorn. We also have our bake stall which has lots of baked goodies such as fresh Portuguese cookies and Portuguese doughnuts."

There are also some amazing prizes that will be given away as part of the raffle, he said.

"The raffles are always a huge hit and everyone always looks forward to it. This year's prizes include a brand-new Hyundai Tucson car, courtesy of the HWP Group.

"We have several travel vouchers, and a $5,200 Disney land-sea excursion courtesy of Meyer-Franklin Travel and C Travel. We have a $5,200 grocery voucher from MarketPlace, a laptop computer courtesy of The Complete Office, a Blackberry phone from Digicel, calling cards from TBI, weekend stays at Pink Beach and Nine Beaches, and we have a brand-new moped courtesy of Cycle Care."

Mr. Coelho said there are so many prizes organisers could not fit them all on the raffle ticket.

He also spoke about a brand-new prize this year that they are hoping to get televised.

"This year we are trying something new which is a two-minute shopping spree courtesy of Lindo's," said Mr. Coelho.

"We would like to televise that because it will be exciting to see how much a person can add to their cart in two minutes."

Mr. Coelho, former alumnus of MSA, added: "The great thing about the raffle is that if you win a prize your ticket goes back into the drum and you are eligible to win as many prizes as you can."

Mr. Coelho hopes families will come to the festival and hopes this year's turn out is the best ever, promising everyone will have a great time.

MSA is Going Around the World starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 10 p.m. today and tomorrow. Admission is $2 and raffle tickets are $5. Children five and under are free admission.