Heavy rains caused a few anxious moments for organisers, but the Bermuda Day Parade set off without a hitch as skies finally cleared.As floats and majorettes lined up outside Bernard Park, the roadsides were thronged with spectators under umbrellas and tents for the 1.30pm start.“We’ve had a shower of blessings,” spectator Marion Tannock said, watching the parade set off onto Marsh Folly Road with her daughter Marionette. “It’s not going to rain on our parade.”Like many sightseers, the Tannocks had made an early start, handing out bottles of water to May 24 runners arriving from Somerset earlier in the day.The cloudburst “probably helped cool them off,” Ms Tannock added, noting that a few people had succumbed to humidity earlier on. “I admire these runners and their stamina.”As Little Miss Paradise Téja Genée Watson got ready to set off in her car, driven by Diana DeRoza, she told The Royal Gazette: “I’m just going to wave to all the people.” She was part of about 70 participants in the hospitality-themed parade that wound from the park, through Hamilton and along Front Street, to end at City Hall.In keeping with this year’s theme of hospitality, the parade was led by six Grand Marshalls with impressive records in the hospitality industry, from Herbie Bascome, Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel sous-chef, to Bryan Butterfield, hailed as a “musical icon” by parade announcers, who helped start the majorettes in Bermuda decades ago.Behind them came the Somerset Brigade Band, playing ‘Take the A Train’. The floats were led by the Community Cultural Arts Christian Company Bermuda, with a procession of dancers dressed in yellow.Arriving on Front Street, the parade had spectators gathering on the decks of the Veendam.Visitors Barbara and Mark Klinger, down from New York on the Celebrity Summit, said they were repeat visitors happy to finally have caught one of the Island’s most celebrated cultural events.“It’s not quite the size of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, but there’s a really nice feeling,” Mr Klinger said. “I’m just so impressed with how people put their names on the curb and it gets respected. That wouldn’t work in New York.”The festive and family atmosphere was not disrupted.“Bermudians know how to behave themselves and have a good time,” said onlooker Ralph Perinchief, celebrating his 38th wedding anniversary with his wife Diane. “This is a day when it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. We come together.”Having arrived with his family at their traditional spot first thing that morning, Mr Perinchief vowed to remain there past midnight.“We’ve got all this food, we’re going to stay here till it’s gone,” he said.For family after family, the story was the same: amply provisioned with food and drink, the parade was a picnic attended by thousands.Coming to the parade stop at City Hall, Little Miss Paradise stepped down from her car.It was her first time taking part, she said, adding: “I think I’m going to go see the rest of the parade”She was met by her grandmother, Eulette Mallory, who had flown home from the UK to watch the event and feared a washout.“It’s been raining for eight weeks in England,” Ms Mallory said. “I was so mad when it looked like rain here, but actually I’m very happy with it.”* For more pictures click here.