Parade makes retailers merry
Thousands lined Feilding’s streets for the town’s annual dose of Christmas cheer.
Feilding’s Christmas carnival and parade involved more than 60 floats making the long march on Sunday from Manfeild to the clock tower in Manchester Square.
While children relished the opportunity to get their hands on the lollies thrown from the floats, the town’s shopping centres were the quiet beneficiaries.
Paper Plus owner Kathryn Marsh said the increased foot traffic had kick-started the profitable holiday period after an unusually quiet lead-up to Christmas.
Marsh had noticed fewer rural residents venturing into town to do early Christmas shopping, perhaps due to the dry weather.
‘‘It has been a slow start. We think the dry weather has hugely affected how much people have come to town so far,’’ she said.
November and December were typically the store’s busiest months, but the last couple of days had shown a turn-around in fortunes, Marsh said.
Meanwhile, Feilding celebrities William ‘‘Waiirua’’ Cribb and Uncle Rick spearheaded the entertainment lineup, which included a range of Manawatu¯ artists, dance groups and bands.
A tribute band honoured Craven Noble, who had hosted the Feilding Christmas parade for the past five years. Noble died suddenly last month after an artery tear in his heart.
‘‘His passing was a shock to everyone,’’ organiser Raewyn Loader said.
The greatest attraction was the float competition.
First Steps Railway Rd took out the preschool section, with North St School winning the school category. Peter Olsen’s float about afterschool activity programs for children was the community float of the year and Feilding Healthcare won best business.