Easter in Guyana 2026
One of the Only Countries Where Easter Means Kite Flying
Good Friday to Easter Monday — kites over the seawall, hot cross buns with cheddar cheese, family gatherings, and a sky full of color. Easter 2026 is extra special as Guyana celebrates its Diamond Jubilee — 60 years of independence. A tradition born from Chinese indentured laborers in the 1800s, now embraced by every community in Guyana.
What to Expect
From church services to kite battles over the seawall, here's everything that makes Easter in Guyana unlike anywhere else on earth
Good Friday — April 3
A solemn day of reflection. Churches across Guyana hold Stations of the Cross processions, three-hour devotional services, and passion plays. Georgetown's most prominent services take place at St. George's Cathedral (Anglican, one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world) and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic). Families bake hot cross buns at home — the aroma fills entire neighborhoods. Many begin assembling kites for the weekend.
Easter Saturday — Kite Making Day
Artisans and families craft kites from bamboo strips and tissue paper. Camp Street and Stabroek Market bustle with vendors selling kite-making supplies. Elaborate star-point kites, singing engine kites with taut vibrating strips, and towering man-kites take shape in yards across the country. Pre-made kites are also widely available from roadside vendors for those who prefer to buy rather than build.
Easter Sunday — Resurrection & Family
Sunrise services and joyful Easter church celebrations across all denominations. Families gather for cook-up rice, fried fish, and the first hot cross buns with cheddar cheese of the weekend. Early kite testing begins at open fields and the seawall as anticipation builds for Monday.
Easter Monday — Kite Flying Day
The main event! The Georgetown Seawall from Kitty to Kingston transforms into a massive kite festival. Hundreds of kites fill the sky over the Atlantic. The Smalta kite-flying competition runs at multiple venues across the country with over $100,000 in prizes. Families picnic, vendors line the roads, and the sky becomes a canvas of color.
Rupununi Rodeo — April 3-5
The biggest Rupununi Rodeo ever — themed "Wild and Bold, Rupununi Stories Unfold" with 8,000 tickets per day at the Triple R Ground in Lethem. Friday opens with a Farmers' Market (16 Rupununi villages) and evening Rodeo Challenge. Saturday features a colorful parade and official opening ceremony. Sunday brings horse racing, spectator contests, and arena events. Airlines have reduced fares for the weekend, and 45 new bridges on the Linden-Lethem corridor make driving safer than ever. Book accommodation early — Lethem sells out.
Bartica Easter Regatta
Officially launched for 2026, the Bartica Easter Regatta features powerboat racing as the marquee event on the Essequibo River. The government has announced plans to "take the regatta global" with expanded international promotion. Pre-regatta activities include dominoes, football (Potaro Strikers won the 2026 Easter Regatta Football title), road races, and the Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant on April 4 at Bartica Community Centre — featuring 9 contestants (including 2 Venezuelan and 1 Brazilian entrants) and a first-ever talent segment. Prizes include 3 electric scooters plus cash awards.
Easter Cup Horse Racing — April 5
The Easter Cup at Port Mourant Turf Club in Berbice features a $4 million purse ($2 million for the winner) across 8 races. The feature Easter Cup race is open to horses aged 3 and older over approximately 1,600 metres. Former Guyana Cup champion Olympic Kremlin headlines the 2026 card. A full day of racing action for Berbice and the Corentyne corridor.
No. 63 Beach Easter Monday
Thousands flock to Number 63 Beach on the Corentyne coast every Easter Monday for kite flying competitions, sea bathing, jet skiing, and family picnics on one of Guyana's longest beaches. The Ministry of Tourism and Guyana Tourism Authority sponsor organized kite competitions here. The beach is currently undergoing a transformative tourism upgrade as part of the National Beautification Project, positioning it as a premier tourism hub for Region 6 and the Corentyne. Fresh seafood, vendor stalls, and a festival atmosphere from dawn to dusk.
Easter — Everything You Need
Your complete guide to celebrating Guyana's legendary kite-flying Easter
The Holiday
- Dates: Good Friday Apr 3 — Easter Monday Apr 6
- Status: Both days are national public holidays
- Closures: Banks, government offices, most businesses (Fri-Mon)
- Weekend: Four consecutive days off for the entire country
- Season: Tail end of the dry season — ideal weather
Where to Celebrate
- Georgetown Seawall — Kitty to Kingston (best breezes)
- National Park — Georgetown (kite flying & events)
- Botanical Gardens — Georgetown (family-friendly)
- Promenade Gardens — Georgetown (casual kite flying)
- No. 63 Beach — Berbice (a rite of passage for Berbicians — kite flying, swimming, jet skiing, and family picnics near the Suriname border)
- Golden Fleece / Zorg Beach — Essequibo Coast
- Open fields nationwide — every community participates
The Kite Flying Tradition
Guyana is one of the only countries in the world that celebrates Easter by flying kites (Bermuda also flies kites on Good Friday, though nowhere else has the tradition become as central to national identity). The tradition originated with Chinese indentured laborers in the mid-1800s who told plantation owners that kites symbolize Christ's ascension to heaven.
Kite types: Star-Point (the classic), Singing Engine (fitted with a taut strip that hums), Mad Bull (large and aggressive), Man/Lady Kite (human-shaped), and Box Kite. Many families still handcraft kites from bamboo and tissue paper.
What to Bring
- Sunscreen — full-day outdoor exposure
- Water — stay hydrated in 30-33°C heat
- Cash — small bills for vendors
- Mat or blanket — for seawall picnics
- Kite string — if you're joining in
- Camera — the sky full of kites is unforgettable
Easter Food
Hot cross buns with cheddar cheese is THE Easter tradition — every bakery and home prepares them. Wash it down with mauby (a bittersweet bark drink) or ginger beer.
Other Easter staples: cook-up rice, fried fish, and channa (spiced chickpeas). Seawall vendors sell everything from snow cones to pholourie throughout the weekend.
Safety & Timing
- Friday: Church services, hot cross bun baking, kite assembly
- Saturday: Kite making, market shopping, preparations
- Sunday: Church, family meals, early kite testing
- Monday: Full-day kite flying, competitions, seawall festivities
- Weather: 30-33°C, dry season, steady coastal breezes
Police: 911 Fire: 912 Ambulance: 913
What to Eat at Easter
The undisputed star: hot cross buns with cheddar cheese — a Caribbean tradition that Guyanese have made their own. Chase it with mauby or ginger beer. Families gather around cook-up rice and fried fish. Seawall vendors serve channa, snow cones, and cold drinks all weekend long.
Explore Guyanese food & drinkEaster in Guyana FAQ
When is Easter 2026 in Guyana?
Easter 2026 runs from Good Friday, April 3 through Easter Monday, April 6 — a four-day public holiday weekend.
Why do Guyanese fly kites at Easter?
The tradition originated with Chinese indentured laborers in the mid-1800s who told plantation owners that kites symbolize Christ's ascension to heaven. Guyana is one of the only countries in the world where Easter is celebrated by flying kites — Bermuda also flies kites on Good Friday, but nowhere else has the tradition become as central to national identity.
What types of kites are flown?
Traditional Guyanese kites include Star-Point kites, Singing Engine kites (fitted with a taut strip that hums in the wind), Mad Bull kites, Box kites, and Man/Lady kites shaped like human figures.
Where is the best place to fly kites?
The Georgetown Seawall from Kitty to Kingston is the most popular spot, with steady Atlantic breezes. Other top locations include National Park Georgetown, No. 63 Beach in Berbice, and Golden Fleece/Zorg Beach on the Essequibo Coast.
What is the weather like during Easter?
Easter falls at the tail end of the dry season. Expect temperatures of 30-33°C (86-91°F) with steady coastal breezes perfect for kite flying. Brief showers are possible, but the dry season means long sunny stretches ideal for kite flying.
What food is traditional at Easter?
Hot cross buns with cheddar cheese is the signature Easter treat. Other traditional foods include cook-up rice, fried fish, channa, mauby, and ginger beer. Seawall vendors sell snacks and drinks all weekend.
Is Easter Monday a public holiday?
Yes, both Good Friday (April 3) and Easter Monday (April 6) are official public holidays. Banks, government offices, and most businesses are closed for the entire four-day weekend.
What organized events happen during Easter?
Major events include the Smalta kite-flying competition held at various venues across Guyana with over $100,000 in prizes, the Rupununi Rodeo in Lethem (April 3-5, themed "Wild and Bold" with 8,000 daily tickets), the Bartica Easter Regatta with powerboat racing on the Essequibo River, and the Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant.
Experience Guyana's Legendary Kite-Flying Easter
From handcrafted kites soaring over the Atlantic to hot cross buns with cheddar cheese — Easter in Guyana is unlike anywhere else on earth.