100 bikers set to lead Carterton's big parade

A cavalcade of more than 100 motorcyclists and decorated bikes will open the annual Carterton Christmas Parade on Saturday.

The Kinsmen Motorcycle Club will start the parade at noon, travelling along High St to the Marquis Hotel. There the club will host a gold coin donation barbecue to raise funds for the children's ward at Hutt Hospital.

Children aged 10 and under will next parade their decorated pushbikes, trikes and scooters, before the main body of the parade launches at 12.30pm.

Rotary Club organisers are expecting more than 30 Christmas floats to travel in the main parade from Wakelin St, north along High St to the roundabout, and down Belvedere Rd to Masson St and on to Broadway.

The Masterton Brass Band and Fern and Thistle Pipe Band will also march in the parade.

High St will be closed from the Wakelin St corner to the Belvedere Rd corner for the duration of the parade. Street stalls also will be operating along the main street.

It is free to enter a float in the parade, which is divided into four categories including business, non-business, schools and decorated bikes. Prizes are up for grabs for the most spectacular entrants.

Prospective parade participants should gather at Wakelin St at 11.30am.