The urbanely sexy, uber exclusive Bermuda International Love Festival is heading into its fifth year this Valentine's Day weekend.  Ted Adams of Virginia will be there; he hasn't missed a year since it began. 

“It's a very intimate gathering of people who have really gotten to know each other,” said Mr. Adams, 45.  “Other people have been coming for three or four years as well.  Even though it's not beach weather, it's a time to stay inside and rekindle.” 

The Love Festival is an annual weekend getaway bursting with romantic touches like chic cocktail receptions, candlelit meals and intimate concerts from sensational musicians – Earth, Wind & Fire in 2009, Babyface in 2010. 

The Bermuda Department of Tourism calls the weekend an “ultimate luxury love experience for the well-deserving couple”. 

The Love Festival always falls on the President's Day holiday weekend in the United States, giving attendees a three-day stretch which often includes Valentine's Day on February 14th.  Over the past four years, the festival has grown a silent reputation for its plush intimacy and exclusivity.  It's not uncommon to find celebrity couples mingling, smooching and rekindling their own romances. 

In 2008, married Bermuda residents Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones sat at the centre table with the Premier of Bermuda and his wife during a Gladys Knight performance.  Former U.S. State Department spokesman James Rubin and his wife Christiane Amanpour of CNN were also there on that occasion.  The following year opera singer Kathleen Battle, actress Lynn Whitfield and former TV talk show host Star Jones were spotted. 

Ms Jones says she's making a Love Festival return in 2010. 

It wasn't the celebrity factor that got Mr. Adams hooked.  He's a hotel developer often in Bermuda on business.  That's how he got involved.  Now every President's Day weekend his wife of 19 years, Rose, is on his arm in Bermuda (except the time a February ice storm grounded her flight in the U.S. and he attended solo). 

The Love Festival has done wonders for the couple on the dance floor.  “We liked taking the dance classes with Travis (Gilbert),” said Mr. Adams.  “He does a great job as the dance instructor.  There were two different ones.  They had ballroom and salsa.  Even since then I've taken classes from Travis.  He's the best instructor I've ever seen.” 

The intimate movie night and the Chocolate & Champagne reception at the Fairmont Southampton also rank as past favourites for Ted and Rose Adams. 

This year the Love Festival – February 12th to 14th – will be hosted by the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and boasts an opening reception at the luxurious Tucker's Point Hotel, a private white tablecloth dinner party at Port O'Call Restaurant, a golf outing at the newly reconstructed Port Royal Golf Course and brunch at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.  The musical performers include the Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, Chuck Jackson and Babyface.