Bermuda Day

What is Bermuda Day?
Bermuda Day, widely considered the first day of summer, is now celebrated on the fourth Friday in May. Locals line the streets to enjoy a vibrant celebration beginning with a half-marathon derby followed by a colourful parade winding through Hamilton full of music, culture, and patriotic pride. The first Bermuda Day Parade was held in 1979 and remains a steadfast celebration featuring dance groups, bands, majorettes, decorated floats, and Gombey troupes. Traditional floats harken back to the Easter Parade using natural materials, while new categories have been introduced to highlight modern art and the creative ingenuity of Bermudian float-builders. The competition between floats is fierce, as they compete for prizes in a variety of categories. Hundreds of people dance in the streets as the enticing Gombey rhythm carries them forward, united as Bermuda.

Bermuda Day is the culminating event of Heritage Month. For more information on the history of Bermuda Day, Heritage Month, and other Heritage Month events, click here.

Bermuda Day 2023 Theme: A Bermudian Renaissance
Friday, May 26, 2023
Bermudians have always had to be resourceful. We come from a small, isolated island, but have always found inventive ways to redefine who we are. Whether that is designing the perfect sloop rig for our currents, finding ways to maintain West African & Caribbean connection through drum and dance, or even making the most of limited food supplies to create a “well” tasting meal. Today, our artists redefine what it means to be Bermudian in public art, in spoken word, in music, in dance. Our athletes continue to dominate on the world stage, proving that a small population can create world-class sportspeople. This Heritage Month, we look with a renewed interest at the talents and identities that continue to shape and evolve our national identity.

Bermuda Day Parade 2023 Entry:
Please read the below documents carefully as categories have been added and updated. All applications are due on Friday, April 28, 2023.  If you have any questions about the below documents, please feel free to contact the Department of Culture for more information.

• Bermuda Day Parade Entry Categories (PDF)
• Bermuda Day Parade Application Form and Rules (web form)
• Bermuda Day Natural Heritage Float Materials Ideas (PDF)

Bermuda Day Fund:
Sponsors interested in helping to offset costs for parade participants will be able to donate to the Bermuda Day Fund. The Bermuda Community Foundation will serve as the fund manager; and parade participants will receive, depending on their budgets, a maximum of $2,500 toward their participation expenses including costumes, truck rentals, and float building materials. Although this support will in no way cover the entire amount of financing required for many groups to participate, it will help to defray costs and give a much-needed boost to these charities and community groups that put in so much work and effort to make the Bermuda Day holiday special for us all. For those interested in donating, view the full details here.

For parade participants looking to apply for funds, please ensure that a regular parade application form has been filled in. Then please fill in the funding support application by May 14, 2023.

Bermuda Day Parade 2023 Route:
Parade will begin on Front Street in front of the Point House/Albuoy’s Point area and continue along Front Street. The parade then turns left onto Court Street, takes a left onto Church Street, a right along Cedar Avenue, and ends at Marsh Folly Road/Dutton Avenue junction.

Vendors selling food will be throughout the route and announced closer to the time. Application for food vendors are now closed, thank you!

Bermuda Day 2023 Booklet:
Please check back closer to the 2023 Bermuda Day parade for the Bermuda Day Booklet.
Please click here to download Bermuda Day 2022 Booklet (PDF) with times, entries, and full details!