The Christmas season is alive and well in Tauranga with a swag of festive events planned for the next few weeks, beginning this weekend with the first of the region's Santa parades.
The event is one of more than a dozen taking place throughout the region ahead of Christmas.
Other events include Christmas at the Races, Carols on the Waterfront, a Christmas in the Park concert, and the Great KidsCan Santa Run which will feature hundreds of people dressed as Santa running along the beach to raise money for disadvantaged children.
The Pak'nSave Papamoa Santa Parade starts at 12pm on Sunday and Papamoa Kindergarten teacher Kerryn Montgomerie said their children had been preparing for the event all term.
''It has all come from the children's ideas - what they want, who they want and from that we've gone ahead and made it happen.''