Summer is upon us once more. The island welcomed the start of the party season yesterday with the traditional Bermuda Day Parade.

A crowd of thousands lined the streets to watch a colourful assortment of floats, dance troupes, Gombeys and more take to the streets of Pembroke and Hamilton.

Some had marked out their space on the pavement with sticky tape, while others were even more careful — setting up their stalls the previous day to ensure the best spot possible.

Tourists on the MS Veendam cruise ship, docked on Front Street, also had a prime view of the day’s festivities.

The parade — the theme of which for 2016 was “A Tapestry of Cultures” — began at the junction of Marsh Folly Road and Bernard Park and ended at Wesley Square on Church Street.

The Bermuda Longriders Motorcycle Club & Association kicked off proceedings at 1.30pm, followed by the Royal Bermuda Regiment Band (playing the mambo classic Sway among other compositions) and Miss Bermuda, Alyssa Rose.

Sunshine was in short supply, and a brief 3pm downpour meant a slew of umbrellas popped open simultaneously, but the party atmosphere remained.

Rhythmic performances were provided by groups including the brightly dressed Sui Generis, the Bermudian flag-toting United Dance Productions, and the sparkly St George’s Original Dancerettes.

Meanwhile, the Department of Corrections showed off a memorable float celebrating the island’s culture with nods to its agricultural past, the Bermuda Triangle and even The Royal Gazette. Elsewhere on the day, entertainment came in the form of everything from clowns to rollerbladers to hovering remote-controlled drones.

Tia Cannonier, from St George’s, said: “The parade has been great. I’m looking forward to seeing my daughter perform with the Dancerettes.”

Sarah Williamson, from Belfast, said: “It’s very lively and very friendly. I’m liking the enthusiasm.”

Ryan Pink, from Ontario, said: “This is my first Bermuda Day. Everyone’s really excited, I’ve been enjoying the floats and I’m hoping to find some good food, too.”

• The official Bermuda Day 2016 souvenir book, Tapestry of Cultures, is now available at a cost of $2 from the Chewstick Culture Hub. A limited edition of Bermuda Day T-shirts are also available

• For more photographs, see our image gallery here