Comments on: Changes Made For 2013 Harbour Nights Season

By: we need ships

we need ships — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:35:07 +0000

I agree. As a vendor it would have been nice to be included in the talks about these changes. Some will be good (buskers, more local food choice, returning to the emphasis on BERMUDA MADE products) but the location change is definately for the retailers, not the vendors. Not sure how its going to work and I truly hope our annual returning customers can find us in whatever location we are placed. What will make Harbour Nights “work again” is getting smaller ships back into Hamilton Harbour.

By: tired of the petty people

tired of the petty people — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:24:02 +0000

Great – so Front Street will be a free flow for traffic and encourage the shops to stay open longer. Well done and well thought out.
I agree with ‘street wise’ about the pedestrian area of Reid Street … perhaps it could be at certain times of the day only. This works very well in many towns and cities in the UK. Totally pedestrianised areas can also have a detimental effect on the drive by window shoppers and puts some people off going to town if they cannot get near the shops.

BTW – this Harbour Nights plan might rejuvinate the streets behind Front Street, so we might even be able to save MILLIONS by not going ahead with the crazy harbour plans.

By: street wise

street wise — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:18:11 +0000

IMHO, Reid Street between Burnaby and Queen should be made into a permanent pedestrian mall… with big planters full of flowers and smaller trees, and restaurant seating outside. This has been suggested forever, but never acted upon.

By: observer

observer — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:54:56 +0000

Yes i read it…… who are the stakeholders, certainly not the vendors who have been out there for the last 2o years because none of the vendors were included in the making of these decisions the changes that are being made are really being made to please the retailers not the artist who this event is supposed to be geared towards….. am here to tell you that most of the artist are not happy with this and without vendors you have no event.

By: cicada

cicada — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:52:27 +0000

Sounds like a great plan, and it is wonderful that the new streets are made pedestrian for Harbour Nights!!

By: street wise

street wise — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:29:40 +0000

@ observer… did you read the article?… particularly paragraph #10.

By: Justine

Justine — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:16:09 +0000

Fantastic! I love Harbour Nights and I often take my kids and visitors. The best one of last year for me was when the Bermuda Glee kids performed – wow were they talented!! I hope more traders support the events this year, we have a wealth of artistic talent on the island too.

By: observer

observer — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:50:34 +0000

Work again…. Who said it wasn’t working!

By: observer

observer — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:49:11 +0000

This is will be the death knell Harbor nights….

By: street wise

street wise — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:12:14 +0000

I know Joanne having worked with her on occasion, and if anyone can make Harbour Nights work again, it is her.

Now considering the Harbour Nights effort in Dockyard which misses our visitors completely because they are all eating dinner on board their cruise ships…to make Dockyard work they will have to start the celebrations one hour later so passengers can enjoy it after their dinner. I wonder if the Powers That Be out there will have the insight to start an hour later. Somehow I doubt it. Bermudians are SO resistant to change… even if it is a good idea!

By: Tommy Chong

Tommy Chong — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:11:05 +0000

The buskers are a good idea. Commenter me’s idea of having local kids entertain can work hand in hand with the busker style but there should be a mix between the more experienced entertainers & kids. It would be great to see magicians, comedians, acapella & doo wop singers & all other sorts of entertainment along the way.

This busker type entertainment would also be excellent next to the docking cruises every time the ships come in. Its strange that we have live entertainment welcomes at the airport when everyones in a rush to fill out declaration forms but none for the cruise ship passengers. They would have something etched in their memory of first impressions of Bermuda if this was done. This may also work to attract the tourist interest to come off the ships earlier than they most do. Another thing is having food stands next to the ships so the tourist smell the cuisine & are tempted to try before even stepping foot on land.

By: Sandgrownan

Sandgrownan — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:38:13 +0000

Agreed. There has been, in recent years, a trend of extremely loud music at many events where it simply isn’t needed or wanted. Most recently at The Telford Mile, one could barely think it was so loud. Tone it down!

Good move CoC.

By: TK

TK — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:21:36 +0000

that sounds like a good idea!

By: Bullseye

Bullseye — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:06:56 +0000

I think change is welcome, and I think that getting away from the main noisy stage is worth a try.

By: Me too

Me too — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:00:11 +0000

Agree with “Me”. Get more kids involved. We’ve stopped going as there’s barely anything for young children to do. More music, dance, Zumba, etc. Could busk for charities as well.
Train for kids, arts and crafts tables for children, etc… If you get kids down, parents will come and will support it.

By: me

me — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:23:44 +0000

Lets get the school kids playing music, or dancing, like the Walk about in St. Georges. He have great talent here!