Santa needs more elves for his parade

Santa needs a few more floats to join him on his annual parade through Richmond this year.

The Pak ‘n Save Richmond Santa Parade is the first of such events on the Nelson-Tasman calendar of Christmas traditions and draws a big crowd. In 2016, the jolly jaunt involving 1000 participants and 37 floats attracted more than 9000 spectators.

However, Richmond Unlimited events and marketing co-ordinator Charlotte Bidlake said the number of floats signed up so far for the 2017 parade was ‘‘a bit light’’ though participants had until November 14 to register.

The event usually involved a combination of floats, trucks, trailers and walking teams, and the 2017 parade was shaping up to be similar.

More than $1200 of Pak ‘n Save vouchers were on offer for prizes including $500 worth for the winner and $300 for a new ‘‘People’s Choice Award’’.

Photos of the floats would be loaded on the Richmond Unlimited Facebook page before the parade started so people could vote for their choice in the new category.

Work on an upgrade of Queen St means the parade is scheduled to follow a slightly different route this year when it hits the streets from noon on November 26.

From the gathering point in the Warring Car Park, the parade will head along Oxford St to Cambridge St and then along the new-look section of Queen St to McIndoe Place where it is set to end at the Petrie Car Park.

Bidlake said attendees would then be able to meet Santa at Sundial Square where there would also be other activities including face painting, a magician and Disney characters.

The parade coincides with the second day of the 2017 Nelson A&P Show at the showgrounds in Lower Queen St.

People could register their float online at richmondunlimited.co.nz/event/ or call Bidlake on 544 4898.