Dannevirke: Call-out for festive input

A bright float in last year's Dannevirke Christmas Parade. It's now time to enter this year's parade. Photo / Christine McKay

Colour and vibrancy is what Dannevirke's High St needs and organisers of the annual Christmas parade and market day are confident that's what the events will bring.

"We want more stallholders to sign up and plenty of floats to make the day a wonderful lively and fun day," Sue Berry of the Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce said.

The chamber is organising the parade and market day on Saturday, December 5, and Sue said the events provide a great day out for the family.

"With High St closed between noon and 1.30pm, it'll be an ideal day for friends to meet and chat and for everyone to check out the stalls."

This year the Christmas parade will go down High St, turn off at Allardice St to reappear at Farmlands before making it's way back up High St.

"No one will miss out on seeing the parade and they'll all know who the winners are as we'll have large placards on those floats," Suresh Patel, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce said.

As well as the traditional champion floats - Best Children's, Best Christmas theme and Champion-of-Champion float - there is a new category, Best Business float.

Mr Patel said he would like to see as many businesses, schools, pre-schools, church groups, and charitable organisations entering the parade.

"There is no fee to enter because this isn't about making money for the chamber, we're doing it for the good of the community."

Along with plenty of Christmas shopping opportunities, there will be entertainers and buskers on High St and Mr Patel said the chamber was organising the events with the support of the Dannevirke Community Board and the Lions Club.

And, while Sue wants more stallholders to sign up for the day, those responsible for food stalls need to be aware of the permit requirements.

- If you would like to book a stall for December 5, contact Sue Berry. Entry forms for the parade are available from the Information Centre.