Plenty of fun for market and parade
Santa will be a star attraction on Saturday as Waihi’s annual Christmas Parade gets set to celebrate the festive season.
The countdown is on and organisers say the popular calendar event was the perfect chance to get into the Christmas spirit.
Organised by Go Waihi with main sponsorship from Harcourts Gold Star Real Estate the event has been combined with a market day to entice shoppers.
Go Waihi co-ordinator Brian Gentil says it is a starter for the Christmas and summer season.
“We get really good feedback from people . . . and the beauty of ours is you are on a float or you are watching. Lots of people know each other so it’s a real community spirit.”
There would be entertainment from 9.30am in town with lots of stalls showcasing a variety of products and crafts.
“They will add to the flavour of the day with the shops also taking advantage of the visitors coming into town. We have lots of tourist here already and I am noticing an influx of motor homes as well as independent travellers .”
“It’s a sure sign that look out summer is on the way and the busy period.”
Meanwhile local musicians who played in the band Id Izwadd Iz would play outside the Memorial Hall while crowds on upper Seddon Street would be entertained by a Dixieland jazz band.
The parade would start at 1pm with an array of float prizes up for grabs.
“People will hear the solo bagpiper and then here comes the parade and Santa.”
Harcourts Gold Star Real Estate general manager Greg Sheppard says it wanted support Waihi’s community spirit and the Christmas parade was a great event.
“It’s a well organised event that we want to support and the kids love it so we want to be involved and it’s a really good parade. The streets are lined with people from Waihi and other districts and they really get behind it.”
“The streets are closed off and the floats run up and down a couple of times and there are prizes given away and it’s lots of fun.”