Gombeys, dancers and decorated floats drew thousands of locals and visitors to yesterday's 2011 Bermuda Day Parade.Crowds lined the sidewalk from Bernard Park to City Hall to see and hear the annual event, which highlighted the Island's rich cultural heritage.Elaborate costumes and even more elaborate floats marked the festivities, with Bermuda kites, palm leaf dolls and a recreation of The Sea Venture stranded on the rocks.While many floats focused on the highlights of the Bermuda community, others noted the recent upswing in gun violence.Anti-violence group Stand Up Bermuda entered a float featuring the names of shooting victims, while the Showtime Drumline wore camouflage emblazoned with the words “Stop the violence.”Along with the float, Stand Up Bermuda Members waved Bermuda flags and handed out brochures to spectators less than 24 hours after the most recent shooting incident.Donald Paynter, watching the floats pass on Cedar Avenue, said it was good to see members of the public stand together, and hoped the public presence would help make a difference.“We clearly have a problem on our Island and something needs to be done,” he said.“Just handing out brochures might not do much, but if something like this can change one person and make them take a better path, it's something we have to do.”Maura Jones said: “I just hope next year they don't have any more names to add to the float.”Sidewalks from Front Street to Marsh Folly were covered with tents as families and strangers stood together to watch the parade move steadily past.At the City Hall Car Park, more than 100 people sat on bleachers watching the various dance and Gombey troupes perform.Jahria Roberts said she had seen the parade every year for as far as she could remember.“It seems slower than in the past,” she said. “ There's a lot of time between everything, but that's a good thing. There's so much music that when they're all on top of each other, you can't hear anything.“It also gives everyone a better chance to stand out in the spotlight.”Maureen Burgess said she was enjoying the show more than in past years because this year, she was watching rather than participating.“It was always fun, but it's so hot. It wears you out,” she said. “I'm happy watching this year.“I was a bit worried it was going to rain like last year with all the clouds, but so far so good.”Michael Rochester, from Toronto, Canada, said he was surprised by the scale of the parade.“I was told there were only a few thousand people here,” he said. “It looks like they're all out today. The sidewalks are completely full. Standing room only.”l For many more pictures, see our photo gallery section - http://www.royalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/tngallery?Site=RG&Date=20110524&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=524009998&Ref=PH