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Cartoon character costumes and performers such as stilt walkers, pictured last year in the Orewa Santa Parade, are in high demand, which was one reason for cancellation of this year’s parade.
After cancellation of both the Orewa Santa Parade and the Surf Sounds events on Saturday, November 24, organiser Destination Orewa Beach says finding another date for the popular parade has proved impossible.
The call was made to cancel the parade down Hibiscus Coast Highway and the concert that was to follow, due to predictions of thunder and lightening that never eventuated.
The cancellation of the Orewa Santa Parade is rare as it generally goes ahead rain or shine. It is thought that this would have been the 20th parade. It was also cancelled in 2011 due to resource consent issues.
Destination Orewa operations manager Hellen Wilkins says the schedule of other parades at this time of year stretches the availability of bands, character costumes and performers who can take part, which is why most suburban Santa Parades don’t have an alternative ‘rain date’.
Instead, Surf Sounds has been ‘rebooted’ and re-scheduled to include elements of the Santa Parade. It will be held on Saturday, December 22 on Orewa Reserve from 5pm to 9pm on the south end of the reserve – between the surf club and the campground.
The event will be about fun, food and fireworks with an element of Christmas festivities. It will feature food trucks, amusement rides, entertainment and a fireworks display. Music will be via a MoreFM playlist, including Christmas carols.
Organisations who had a float in the Santa Parade are being contacted to see if they would like to park their float on the reserve. Hellen says this gives these groups exposure, the opportunity to be creative and for their members to dress up and be festive.
She says any group who were going to showcase their cheerleading, karate, kapa haka and other skills in the parade, are also welcome to take part in this re-booted event. “How these are incorporated will be worked out once we know the level of interest,” Hellen says.
Kids will be encouraged to dress up and there will be a ‘best costume’ award. There’ll be face painting, a clown and a colouring-in competition for the young ones plus the Orewa Life Saving Club will be selling light sticks and sizzled sausages.
Santa will be there and the crescendo of the evening will be the professional fireworks display at 8.45pm.
Info: phone Destination Orewa Beach or email hellen@orewabeach.co.nz
