Carols evening fun event for the whole family

Crowds enjoy the entertainment at last year's Christmas in the Park at Cornwall Park.

Christmas celebrations are set to return to Cornwall Park, with Bay families poised to celebrate Christmas in the park for the 129th time.

This year's event will be held this Sunday and will start from 2pm till 7pm before the crowd will be invited to sing carols.

Hastings District Councillor Sandra Hazlehurst said the family event was a "highlight of our year and a wonderful opportunity to bring people together to celebrate Christmas".

"Once again carols will ring out across the park. The carols will be led by The Deco Bay Napier Port Brass Band with the Fetu Ao Choir from the Hastings Wesley Methodist Church and the Hawke's Bay Community Choir."

She said it would be the 129th time that carols have been sung in Cornwall Park at Christmas.

"One wonders what a time traveller from 1885 might think if they saw the Splash Pad in full flight, bouncy castles, volleyball, touch rugby and pop music."

The day kicks off at 2pm with bouncy castles, backyard games and activities from Kiwi Adventure Trust, storytelling and craft making from Hastings District Libraries. Food stalls will be operating and families are invited to bring a picnic on the lawn opposite the Splash Pad.

The live performances start at 3pm with Zumba Whanau, Rhythm Forte, The Dream Girls, Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre and The Kawekas. A highlight will be Santa's arrival at 5pm, with the chance to have your photo taken with him until 6pm.

TSB Bank, sponsors of this event, will be giving away two TSB Bank Saver Plus accounts loaded with $500 each (conditions apply). Stop by the TSB Bank tent between 2pm and 5pm for details on how to enter.

Christmas in Cornwall Park is brought to you by the Hastings District Council with support from TSB Bank, Creative Hastings and the Kiwi Adventure Trust.