Bermuda’s biggest Christmas party is in full swing on Elbow Beach, where the day is almost too hot for Santa hats.

“I can’t take it off now; I’ll ruin everyone’s dreams.” said Cazzie, a visitor from Michigan dressed in full Santa regalia and mightily enjoying her first trip to the island.

“What I’ve learnt is that if you want to make kids happy or make kids cry, wear a Santa costume. One girl said she wants a pony. I’m going to do my best.”

Temperatures are around freezing back home in Michigan. Cazzie, whose brother-in-law is working on the island for the 2017 America’s Cup, was contemplating taking a swim.

“It’s pretty warm in this thing,” she admitted. “But come on. What better place to be Santa than on the beach?”

Nearby was Valerie, from Santa Rosa, California, enjoying her first visit to the Christmas beach bash and happy to be holidaying with all five of her children.

Later today the family will indulge in their usual Christmas pastime of decorating a gingerbread house — although the warm and humid conditions aren’t ideal for gingerbread.

The colourful tradition of champagne and Christmas costumes at Elbow Beach is especially popular among expatriates, but draws its share of locals as well — families in particular.

“This is probably our sixth year doing this,” said Dennie O’Connor, serving drinks to revellers alongside Gussie Godwin of Beach Boys, the Tobacco Bay concession.

“All you need is a top sound system and everybody ends up coming together. You’re going to see 3,000 people down here by this afternoon.

“I love it for the passion. It’s great to see everybody coming together. The majority of the people are expatriates who are away from their families but you get a lot of Bermudians and there’s just a great synergy.”

Added Mr Godwin: “This is their Christmas. Everybody’s cool. I love it for the unity, and there’s a lot of families, a lot of people bringing their kids.”

Their drinks stand, sponsored by WKD, will be kept busy fuelling the merriment until 5pm, with the majority of the proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda, a cause dear to both men.

Elbow Beach will be an all-day affair for Aniela, a restaurant worker from Romania who has been on the island for three years.

“It’s a very beautiful island and the people are very nice — for us this is a time to meet all the others from Romania here.”

There were easily 1,000 people on the beach by noon when The Royal Gazette dropped by.

“This is my fourth time in Bermuda but my first time here for Christmas — it’s gorgeous,” said Jessica, a Londoner living in Manchester and enjoying a Dark and Stormy.

She said she was on the island visiting family and friends and had decided to check out the beach festivities.

“It’s really different,” she said. “In England families are at home and probably around the fire because it’s so cold. This is beautiful; I love it.”