Santa parades in city streets
Palmerston North’s Christmas parade has made a welcome return to The Square, after a stormy forecast meant last year’s parade was cancelled.
As crowds drifted from the shops and activities yesterday to prepare for the parade, the mercury was registering a warm 27 degrees Celsius, a light northwesterly breeze keeping conditions pleasant and increasing cloud cover providing sun protection.
A police car, the Manawatu¯ Scottish Pipe Band and the Lions Club of Rongotea’s bursts of confetti signalled the start of the parade.
About 50 floats, walking and riding groups travelled Church St and wound around The Square, the early floats heading off down Main St back to base before Santa appeared at the Grand Hotel corner.
One aspect of former Christmas parades was missing. There was no town crier to replace Caroline Robinson, who died earlier this year. Mayor Grant Smith said there should be an announcement about her successor early next year.
It was the first year the parade had been held since the city council decided to allow dogs on leads in The Square, but Lions Club organiser of the parade Carol Kelly said the rule about no animals in the parade still stood. The winning community floats were Ruahine AFC, St Matthew’s Anglican Church and Falun Dafa.
Park Road Playcentre and West End Kindergarten were the best schools’ entries, and Alphabet Academy, Kiwirail and Micasa Spanish Classes won commercial honours.
The only sour note of the day’s Christmas activities was when some people complained about the presence of Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters frightening children about lunchtime.
Police attended, but a spokeswoman said no further action was required.