Good Friday celebrations at Horseshoe Bay were in full flow on the Southampton beach yesterday despite early cloudy skies — and the traditional KiteFest kicked in at midday with the drums and whistles of Gombeys.

The Warwick Gombey Troupe led a crowd of kite-bearing locals and visitors down to the sand, accompanied by the rabbit-costumed Easter bunny.

The yearly bash, hosted by the Chewstick Foundation, drew thousands throughout the day — some braving the 72F waters, and many sporting a variety of kites.

“It’s gone great,” enthused Chewstick co-founder Najib Chentouf. “Lots of families having fun, and lots of visitors are here involved in the competitions. We’ve had a kite count — it’s about 100 — and in the years to come we want to set a record.”

Family Centre head Martha Dismont, on hand to judge fishcakes, said the event’s hosts had organised the beach bash perfectly.

It was the community and arts group’s third year hosting KiteFest.

“I love the diversity, I love the spirit and the support of Chewstick; I love to see the coming together and the family friendly events,” Ms Dismont told The Royal Gazette.

“I will always come out to any event that pulls us together. Bermuda really needs that.”

Artists Bermuda Squad, Haz, Kidd Classic, Tony Robinson, Mike Hind and the latest Bermuda Idol winner Olivia Hamilton took to the stage.

CellOne handed out free kites, and companies KeyTech, BTC and Logic gave sponsorship, along with Belco, Bermuda’s Best and the Ministry of Public Safety.

And, in a sign of Good Friday’s success as a tourist event, the Fairmont Southampton Princess encouraged its guests to join in, with Gombeys showing the way.

The Bermudian tradition of flying kites at Easter also received international attention this week as overseas news outlets noted holiday traditions from around the world.

Fox News highlighted Bermuda’s kite flying as one of five unique Easter celebrations, along with France’s “flying bells”, Mexico’s “Procession of Silence” and the Easter markets of the Czech Republic.

“Noted for its private coves and white-sand beaches in the North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda is also known for flying numerous colourful kites over the Easter holiday,” the reporter wrote.

“This tradition is said to have begun when a local teacher had trouble explaining Christ’s ascension to heaven to his class so he showed them by launching a kite into the sky. Ever since, locals have been constructing handmade kites in various shapes, sizes and colours and launching them on Good Friday to commemorate the holiday.”

The Topeka Capital-Journal also noted Bermuda’s kites in an article on Easter Traditions, as did the Irish edition of the Independent

On the home front, Good Friday festivities included the Harrington Workman’s Club Good Friday Family Fun Day at Devil’s Hole Field, the Pembroke Hamilton Club Fun Day at PHC Field in Warwick, the Gilbert Lamb Day at St David’s Cricket Club, the Valley versus Hill Family Fun Day at Port Royal Field, as well as in neighbourhoods and parks up and down the Island.

Sunny skies brought the KiteFest to a close.