New ProvidenceHEART BALL: The 50th Annual Heart Ball will be held on Saturday, February 15 at the Melia Resort. Cocktails are 7:15 p.m. with dinner at 8:30 p.m.FESTIVAL RUM BAHAMAS: Festival Rum Bahamas, February 21-23 at Fort Charlotte, is an enticing mixture of local, regional and international rum exhibitors. During the three-day festival there will be product sampling, master classes on rum, bartending and cocktail competitions as well as Caribbean music and food. Of course there will be an opportunity to purchase everything that you try. For more information visit rumbahamas.com.WORLD RELAYS: The inaugural (IAAF) International World Relays take place May 24-25 at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium. The event will bring together some of the best athletes in the world and is expected to attract many of the top sprint and middle distance medalists from the 2012 Olympic Games as well as the 2013 IAAF World Championships. For more information visit bahamasworldrelays.org. CHANGING OF THE GUARD: The changing of the guard, a display of Bahamian music and military exercise, takes place each month on the last Thursday and Saturday at 10 a.m. at Government House. The changing of the guard has been a tradition since 1958. The ceremony features the world-renowned Royal Bahamas Police Force Marching Band and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force guards.JAZZ AT THE HILTON: Jazz group Vice Versa, featuring vocalist Naomi Taylor, performs every Tuesday and Thursday at British Colonial Hilton at 6:30 p.m. Grand BahamaCOMEDY SHOW: Love and Laugh Comedy Show featuring Michael Blackson, known as The African King of Comedy from the hit movie "Friday" along with Daddi Whites from Nassau, Stephanie McRae from Comic View, A.G. White from BET's Comic View and Brooklyn Mike from The Chapelle Show and MTV Snaps will take place Saturday, February 22 at the Grand Lucayan Ballroom. Tickets can be purchased at Gizmos and Gadgets, Expression and Musik Lakay.VALENTINE EXHIBITION: Grand Bahama Artists Association's Annual Valentine Art Exhibition takes place February 6-28. Local and international artists gather in the Glory Banks Art Gallery to present their latest eclectic collection of still life, abstracts, island life, sea and landscape works in a variety of mediums. For more information telephone 353-4333 or 352-5438.AbacoFOOD, FOLKS AND FUN: Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, will play host to the first Devour! The Beach festival. It will take place, March 26-29 with culinary events led by international celebrity chefs from Chicago, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Dallas, Ottawa and Halifax. Food and wine lovers will also enjoy sessions hosted by a master of wine from the United Kingdom. Two nights will feature themed gala dinners from classic French cuisine to the pan-American cooking. The days will have various activities for the culinary and wine enthusiast, from fishing and diving, to chef beach cookouts, to wine and culinary demonstrations.LOVE RUSH WEEKEND: The two-day competitive event to be held February 21-22 evokes excitement and passion amongst Bahamians and visitors through the traditional music, costumes and dance that are displayed and paraded by local junior and senior Junkanoo groups. It will begin with the school groups and end with the community groups that are all competing for supremacy on this uniquely Bahamian stage in downtown Marsh Harbour.Acklins HOMECOMING: Salina Point Homecoming celebrations, February 24-27 is an annual reunion for former residents of Salina Point. The event features four days of daytime and nighttime activities, beginning with a float parade from the Spring Point Airport to the settlement of Salina Point. There will be live entertainment, dancing, a fashion show, plus Little Miss and Big Miss Salina Point Beauty Pageants. The festivities close out with a church serve on Sunday at Salina Point Public Park. For more information telephone 464-8521 or 476-0363.AndrosVALENTINE'S DINNER: This Valentine's Dinner/Banquet scheduled for Friday, February 14, will be an evening of music, food and dance hosted in a romantic atmosphere at the Lighthouse Club and Marina in Andros Town. For more information telephone 368-2286.Berry IslandsFISHING TOURNAMENT: The fifth Invitational Wahoo Fishing Tournament will be hosted at the Great Harbour Cay Marina, February 13-15. It includes three consecutive days of social gatherings and fishing. Tickets are available for those persons who would like to participate in the social gatherings only. For more information telephone 367-8005.The ExumasCARNIVAL FAIR: St. Andrew's Carnival Fair, February 20-22, offers three days of activities for the family, with lots of native dishes and pastries on sale. The venue is the softball park in George Town. For more information telephone 336-2120.ART AND CRAFT SHOW: The Yuma Arts Association Art and Craft Show on February 22 will feature locally made crafts including shell, sand and fish scale jewelry, intricate conch shell carvings, paintings and straw products. For more information telephone 336-2435.REGATTA: The George Town Cruising Regatta takes place February 24-March 9. The event includes 12 days of activities for visiting cruisers and Exumians. There will be two days of sailing activities as well as spectacular onshore activities such as conch shell blowing contests, a variety show, softball competition and lots of family activities. The venue is picturesque Elizabeth Harbour in George Town. For more information telephone 336-2430.Long IslandBASKETBALL JAMBOREE: High school students from throughout the islands will compete in the Basketball Jamboree, February 20-22 in Miller's, Long Island. For more information telephone 338-8662 or 472-1538.HOMECOMING: North Long Island's Homecoming Festival takes place February 27-March 2 in Glinton's Park in North Long Island. It features talent and fashion shows by students from schools on the island, a gospel concert, a live native band and lots of food, drinks, games and entertainment for the family.WINTER RECEPTION: The Winter Residents' Reception takes place on Friday, February 28. It is a celebration to express gratitude for the contributions made by the winter residents to the island. For more information telephone 338-8668.Ragged IslandRAGGED ISLAND: Valentine's Day Yachters' Party will take place Saturday, February 15. A highlight of the events calender, the annual get-together on Valentine's weekend, is a party like no other. Residents gather on Hog Cay, weather permitting, for a daylong celebration. The party begins with a Junkanoo rush-out led by students on the Ragged Island All-Age School. There's swimming, music and dancing. Native Bahamian and American dishes are served to satisfy the appetite.Rum CayFESTIVAL: The Rum Cay Day Festival takes place February 21-23 in Port Nelson's historic Milo Butler Heritage Park. The all-day festival is the signature event for Rum Cay. It features a church service, cultural entertainment, Rake and Scrape bands, games, local craft and food and drinks. For more information telephone 331-2828.o To have your event listed in The Hook Up, email your information to shavaughn@nasguard.com.

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