It's that time of year again when Santa starts making his rounds of Far North towns to announce the imminent arrival of Christmas.
The first Santa parade of the season starts at 11am this Saturday, November 28, in Kerikeri. Organised by Kerikeri Lions Club, the parade follows the one-way system, starting and finishing at the Domain. Festivities will continue until 3pm. Up to 50 floats are expected and the Whangarei Pipe Band will be heading north to lead the parade. Traffic diversions will be in place.
Also this Saturday Mangonui School will hold its annual Christmas in the Park on the school field from 11am-4pm. Attractions will include games, a bouncy castle, climbing wall, raffles, face painting, white elephant and plenty of food (hangi, mussel chowder and pork buns to name a few).
Santa's next appearance will be in Paihia, where the business association is hosting a Superhero-themed parade from 5.30pm on Friday, December 4. A craft market will be held on the Village Green and Paihia Lanes, and a street food market in the former Paihia Mall will be officially opened on the same evening.
Paihia's parade isn't the Far North's biggest but it usually has the most extravagant floats. Past years have seen a life-size pirate ship, spaceships and an army of slaves pulling a pyramid.
