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The ever-popular Ōrewa Santa Parade will take place on November 25, with the route unchanged – from Florence Ave along the highway to Ōrewa Beach Reserve carpark.
Last year was one of the biggest ever, with an estimated crowd of 6000-7000.
To date 30 floats are confirmed, but that number could as much as double by parade day, organisers say.
Music will be in the capable hands of parade leaders Hibiscus Coast Pipe Band as well as the Hibiscus Coast Concert band, Geiger Musik and Falun Dafa bands.
Local business will showcase their brands whilst getting into the Christmas spirit, and there’ll be cheerleaders, Taekwondo and kickboxing demonstrations, Sammy the Steam Engine, Batman, licenced TV characters, a convoy of Hibiscus Rodders Club cars, as well as many local community groups.
The parade starts at 4.30pm.
The biggest change this year is that instead of the Surf Sounds event, which has been separated from the Santa Parade and moved to March 30 (Easter weekend), there will be a smaller food truck and amusements carnival on Ōrewa Beach reserve, by the surf club, from 3.30pm to 8pm, operated by the Ōrewa-Millwater Rotary Club.
The rain date is November 26.
It’s not too late to let organisers know that you want a float – either vehicle, walking group, performance group or other – email admin@orewabeach.co.nz
Among those entering a float for the first time this year, is Pest Free Hibiscus Coast. The organisation is working with the local branch of Forest & Bird on the project. Pest Free Hibiscus Coast community activator, Andrea Dick says the float will include a number of children dressed up as rats sitting in a giant trap and others in bird costumes flying around. The children are members of Forest & Bird’s Kiwi Conservation Club, as well as the children of local backyard trappers. To avoid the use of plastic, there has been a lot of creativity in creating the float, including making masks from papier mache. Fantails (piwakawaka) made of flax will be handed out along the parade route. The children are pictured at a costume-making session recently held at Whangaparāoa library.
