Kites galore filled the sky above Horseshoe Bay yesterday as hundreds of revellers enjoyed Good Friday on the beach.

Shop-bought creations, including dragons, sharks and space shuttles, vied for space with a small number of traditional Bermudian kites, made with tissue paper and wood.

Rain early in the day threatened to put a damper on the annual Easter event, as participants fled the sands and headed home.

But by midafternoon, the sun was beating down and at least a thousand people were packed onto the beach in Southampton hoping for the perfect gust to take their kite up to the clouds.

The United Bermuda Party's youth wing, Young United, put on a show for the crowd, including live music, a tug-of-war contest and a Bermudian kite competition.

Best in show was a red and silver foil design which took its owner Dion Smith, from Warwick, five hours to make.

The largest kite prize went to Dennis Trott and best kite awards went to Nick Tropeoro (visitors' category) and Madison Smith (adult category).

Compère Patrina O'Connor told the audience: "I'm hoping that next year we see more Bermudians entering this contest. I just want to encourage all Bermudians out there to get their kids to make kites."

Many of the participants in the tug-of-war contest were members of the rugby team from Brown University in Rhode Island.

They were in Bermuda for three games, all of which they lost. But the college's rugby director Jay Fluck said: "It's a lovely island to visit. We've been having terrible rainstorms so it was nice to get away from some awful weather.

"There has been some kind of rainy weather today but they found this beach great and they are really enjoying it."

David North, from London, got roped into taking part in the tug-of-war thanks to his Mr. Strong T-shirt. "It's been really good fun, it's beautiful here," said the 43-year-old, who was on a weekend break to Bermuda with girlfriend Mel Austin.

"I came here 28 years ago with a school orchestra so it's nice to come back."

Tourists Glenda and Carlos Alvarez, both 48 and from New Jersey, didn't take a kite to the beach but enjoyed every minute of the colourful spectacle.

"It's a beautiful family event and we are visitors but we feel very welcome," said Mrs. Alvarez. "We are not 'kiters' but we are loving the kites."

Pansy Olander, a 16-year-old Bermuda High School student from St. David's, said she wished it was hotter but had enjoyed the day. "This is actually my first time. It's been really good; we were dancing."

Guest worker Ahmed Holder, 35, of Devonshire, brought his first-ever homemade Bermudian kite along but ripped the tissue paper minutes after getting to the beach. "I just hope the weather stands up," he said.

Brandon Rogers, in his fifties, from Paget, planned to get his plastic bird kite in the air. "I didn't have no intention of kite-flying this year but those plans changed and that's OK," he said.

UBP Senator Jeanne Atherden said this year's theme for the event — held in conjunction with the Emperial Group — was Unity in the Community.

"Part of all this is to remind people that we are a community and unity is where we have to go."