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More than 3000 people are expected at Warkworth’s annual Santa Parade and One Warkworth manager Murray Chapman hopes as many community groups as possible get behind the event.
Last year, businesses, kindergartens, schools and community groups put together 18 creative floats for the parade, but Murray hopes for more this year.
The theme this year is “Kiwi Summer” and the event takes place on December 2, at the earlier time of 11am.
The idea of the theme is to give the parade a distinctively New Zealand feel, in contrast to a snowy northern hemisphere look.
Floats will assemble in Alnwick Street and escort Santa down Neville Street into Queen Street then up
Mill lane before returning to Queen St again via Neville St.
Prize giving and judging of floats will take place in Queen St.
The parade will feature dance troupes, face painting, photos with Santa and lolly hand outs.
Murray says the reason for the earlier start and the Queen Street finish is to give retailers the opportunity to engage with the people who are there.
“We would love it if they would really get into the Christmas spirit and dress their shops up. Even to the extent of putting stalls outside their shops for a couple of hours,” he says.
As Mahurangi Matters went to press, the traditional Santa Parade in Wellsford was in doubt following uncertainties over the route and funding.
Last year, the parade was held alongside the Wellsford Country Show, which this year has been cancelled due to drainage work at Centennial Park.
Wellsford Promotions president Stef Railey says she is eager for the parade to go ahead, but is looking for volunteers to step up and help run it.
Interested volunteers can phone Stef on 423 7642 or text 021 954 241.
For more info on the Warkworth parade and to enter a float, email info@warkworthbusiness.org.nz or call Charlene 021 0291 3792.
