‘Tis the season to put smiles on dials
Thousands of people lined the centre of New Plymouth to get a glimpse of Santa – or a handful of lollies – on Saturday.
The city’s annual Christmas parade drew flocks of families to the main drag for what turned out to be a slightly shorter event than usual.
The street party began at 11am and included the children’s Santa sprint running event.
Luke Galley, regional manager of youth activities group Zeal Taranaki, ran alongside the kids – in a full Santa suit on a scorching hot day.
The parade set off from the Clock Tower at 1pm and drew an enormous crowd as it passed along Devon St, turned into Liardet St and looped back down Gill St/Ariki St to the start.
The New Plymouth Central Lions Club chief parade co-ordinator, Charles Thurston, said he thought the parade went really well.
‘‘That’s why we do this,’’ Thurston said. He said he felt lucky to be able to organise such a parade, when family in the UK were currently stuck in lockdown.
There were 30 floats this year – usually there are 40 for a full parade – due to people having other commitments and a ‘‘challenging year’’ with Covid-19 lockdowns, Thurston said.
He said no schools entered floats and he thought teachers were using their time to focus on children’s education instead. ‘‘It’s entirely understandable.’’ Natalia Welson and her daughters Shayla, 13, and Ellie, 9, loved the parade. ‘‘We love Christmas,’’ Natalia said. The trio were looking out for the gymnasts and bagpipers, and they were not disappointed as the parade participants performed right in front of them.
Natalia said while the parade was a little shorter than most years, the girls got their hands on extra lollies.
Hours after the Christmas parade, thousands of people gathered to celebrate Diwali in New Plymouth.
Diwali organiser Ashwani Kumar said the Saturday evening festival was ‘‘fantastic’’, and saw people travel from all over Taranaki.
Diwali is a festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs.
‘‘It was so amazing,’’ Kumar said.
He said about 5000 people came through the TSB Stadium doors, with some having to stand.
That was the largest number they’d
seen to date, since starting Diwali celebrations in New Plymouth in 2016. ‘‘It’s increasing every year.’’ Meanwhile, organisers of the 111th Stratford A&P Show estimated more than
14,000 people came through the gates over the weekend.
‘‘It’s been fantastic,’’ show secretary Vicki Jagersma, said.
She estimated more than 10,000 people visited the Stratford Flint Rd showgrounds on Saturday, with a further
4000 yesterday after morning rain gave way to bright sunshine.
‘‘Unfortunately, a lot of traders went home on Saturday night, but those that stayed did very good trade today.’’
Visitors were treated to two days of family entertainment, including displays by axemen and farriers, sheepdog trials, rides, a children’s petting zoo, stalls and hundreds of competition animals, including 250 horses, 250 cows, 70 beef animals, and 65 pigs.
This year, for the first time, the Stratford A&P Society hosted the Royal Dairy Show.
The event is usually held in Hastings, but was cancelled this year because of Covid-19.
The beef cattle section and the pig were also given Royal event status, which show organisers have described as a huge honour.
The Royal Agricultural Society dairy cow of the year was Pukekaraka Elle Delila, displayed by the Gilbert family, of Rakaia in the South Island.
The Royal event beef supreme winner was Rivendell Delicious, exhibited by K and B Woolley, of Wellsford, north of Auckland, and the supreme pig was Hillview Lilly 6, exhibited by George Schulz, of Levin.
Jagersma said the Royal status had attracted entrants from much further afield than usual.