3 Best Performing Arts in Bermuda

This top-notch festival is a celebration of independent films from all over the world. A full week of springtime screenings takes place at City Hall in Hamilton. Tickets are sold for individual films as well as for workshops and seminars. Festival parties are also popular, as Hamilton mimics—for a few days at least—the glamour of Sundance, minus the fancy cars.

Despite a fire that destroyed its headquarters in 2017, Chewstick is still going strong as a community arts organization attracting a diverse crowd of artists. Open mics are still popular, but check the website for upcoming dates and locations as there is currently no permanent space. Anything goes, whether it's music, spoken word, or dance. Chewstick is a great place to mingle with locals.

Every Wednesday night in summer Front Street in Hamilton hosts a free street festival featuring Bermudian artists, crafts, Gombey dancers, and face painting. Harbour Nights encompasses most of Hamilton: Front Street and Queen Street are closed to traffic, stores stay open later, and throngs of locals and visitors alike sample local art stalls, bouncy castles and rides, food vendors, and live music. It's a great time to try local cuisine like fish cakes, fresh fish, fried chicken, meat pies, and Portuguese deep-fried doughnuts.

Make dinner reservations at a restaurant with a balcony overlooking Front Street for a bird's-eye view of the action (the Terrace and the Pickled Onion are very popular).