MONTREAL -- Montreal's first daytime gay-pride parade since 2004 pulled in a buoyant downtown crowd Sunday which organizers said exceeded 50,000 -- far above their earlier predictions of 30,000.

Many spectators showed up in family groups, basking under brilliant early-afternoon sunshine, smiling and often swaying to the punchy music.

They were packed as much as 15 deep in some spots along the 16-block downtown route, arrayed on the banks of a spectacular river of 1,500 marchers combining colour and movement.

For Juliette Galarada, almost 9 years old, "the costumes" -- not the crowd size -- proved the highlight.

The youngster delivered that verdict as the last of 70 groups finished their relaxed, one-hour saunter.

The first large contingent -- 22 bikers from the Association des motorcyclistes gais du Quebec -- kick-started the event at 1:10 p.m. The final float crossed the finish line nearly two hours later.

Spectators had an arresting range of choice. These included fabulous plumed headpieces and four parade leaders dressed to embody fire, earth, air and water.

Followed a half-dozen transvestites clad in tight neon-green gowns, or for that matter, their companions on an elaborate float equipped with a twirly water fountain -- a group of lithe young men wearing only the skimpiest of pink bathing-suit-style briefs.

"We don't have anything like this in Cuba," marvelled Olga Falcon, part of Juliette's six-person family group.