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.
From church services to kite battles over the seawall, here's everything that makes Easter in Guyana unlike anywhere else on earth
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, road races, and the Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant. Live entertainment, street festivities, and the festive energy of one of Guyana's most popular Easter-weekend destinations.
Your complete guide to celebrating Guyana's legendary kite-flying Easter
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.
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.
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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 2026 runs from Good Friday, April 3 through Easter Monday, April 6 — a four-day public holiday weekend.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From handcrafted kites soaring over the Atlantic to hot cross buns with cheddar cheese — Easter in Guyana is unlike anywhere else on earth.