Grey Street Christmas Festival ‘awesome’

It was several nights before Christmas, there was no sign of Prancer, Vixen or Comet and it was more a case of let it rain than snow, but the big dude in red did make an appearance on a less conventional means of festive transport at the Grey Street Christmas Festival on Sunday. An IRB powered by multi-turbo feet-beaters and with SC and a young helper on board made its way to centre stage as part of a fun-filled afternoon which organisers Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust said attracted thousands. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Sunday’s inaugural Grey Street Christmas Festival was an “awesome success”, organisers say.

Grey Street was closed to traffic between Childers Road and the skatepark for the event, which was organised by Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust (TAT). There were food trucks and craft stalls as well as floats built on-site and on display. The theme was “beach days”.

There were also a worst-Christmas-jersey competition, twinkle light tunnel, face painting, games, carols and fashion parade on a candy-cane runway, all topped off with a visit from Santa himself.

“Thousands turned out,” TAT chairman Haimona Ngata said.

“A lot of the food vendors sold out, which was pretty awesome. A lot of the craft vendors were super busy, the local musicians were awesome. It was great to see them up on a big stage and playing some tunes.”

A custom-made driftwood Christmas tree was donated for the event and was in turn donated to the Gisborne Hospital cancer ward to take part in a national competition.

“All in all it was an awesome success. We just avoided the rain in the evening.”

A free bouncy castle was popular as was the lolly scramble for the children.

Mr Ngata said the group would be interested in collaborating with other organisations to consider a repeat event, next year.

“It was a massive piece of work.”