Santa will be including Mangawhai on his rounds this year. Two enterprising mothers, Sandra Brunt and Laureen Medcalfe, have decided that Mangawhai has missed out for too long.
“Each year we go to the wonderful parade in Wellsford and think ‘wouldn’t it be great if we had something like this at Mangawhai!’,” Sandra says. “In the end, Laureen and I realised that if we wanted a home-grown Christmas parade we would have to organise it ourselves, and that’s what we’ve done.”
The parade will be held in the grounds of the Mangawhai Domain on Saturday, December 19. Participants are asked to muster in the carpark by 9.45am for a parade start at 10.30am.
“If the community supports us – both by entering floats and attending as spectators – then we will do it even bigger and better next year.
“Participation can be as extravagant or as simple as you like – just a few representatives carrying a banner will be fine.”
Groups, business and individuals participating will be asked to contribute $10 towards costs. Sandra says the need for resource consent, professional traffic management plans and road closures made holding a street parade too difficult this year. However, with more time, they will be attempting to take the parade onto the streets next year.
Info: Phone Sandra on 431 5571 or Laureen on 431 4135.
PHOTO: Santa’s little helpers, from left, are Emily and Jaxon Medcalfe, and Cody and Holly Brunt.
