Weather didn’t rain on Santa parade – for one day at least
After the Covid-19 pandemic prevented Maahi and Mannat Bajwa from seeing Santa during their first two Christmases, the 2-year-old twins finally got a glimpse of the big man in red at A Very Welly Christmas at the weekend.
Wearing matching green and red headbands adorned with Christmas trees, the girls had a ‘‘blast’’ watching the parade from Ballance St to the Old Bank Arcade on Saturday with their extended family, their mother Shomiya Bajwa, said.
For Bajwa herself, ‘‘seeing all the different families come together and just seeing the joy on people’s faces’’ was the highlight of the celebration.
Despite the temperature topping 18C, Lambton Quay was transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with an ice rink, ‘‘snowball igloo’’ and foam pit, for the event on Saturday. However, more planned festivities were called off yesterday, as heavy rain lashed the capital.
Julie Stevens said she and her family were grateful the bad weather held off so that, like the Bajwas, they could enjoy their first experience of the annual event on Saturday.
Her daughter Sophie, 9, ‘‘had the best time’’ slipping and sliding around the foam pit.
‘‘She got absolutely soaking wet. That was definitely one of her highlights of the whole day.’’
Watching street performers and shooting pudding hoops were also some of Sophie’s favourite activities on the day.
‘‘[It was] really amazing to have such an array of things and it all being free.
‘‘We actually spent all day there,’’ Stevens said.
An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people are thought to have attended A Very Welly Christmas on Saturday.
Kararaina Te Ahuru was going to celebrate her 4th birthday with her sister Te Rongopai, 5, and her mum Keta at the event yesterday, but they had to change their plans due to the poor weather.