Festivities galore as Santa Claus comes to town

This year's Santa Parade features 200 items, including Santa. Photo / Greg Bowker

Look out for Bob the Builder, Cookie Bear and My Little Pony jostling for space alongside the jolly man in red at today's Santa Parade.

"I'm just so excited about this year's parade. We've got heaps and heaps of magical things in it," Auckland parade general manager Pam Glaser said.

Several helium balloons had been brought in from the US, including a Christmas kiwi, reindeer and Thomas the Tank Engine - some of them standing 16m high. Stilt walkers and a 60s flower power float would also feature among the 200 items in the parade.

Organisers expected a crowd of at least 300,000, with hits on the parade website reaching more than 5000 last weekend.

"I think we're going to have huge crowds. It's a free show and it's been a tough year for people," said Glaser.

Santa's Party starts at 11am in Aotea Square, followed by the Farmers Santa Parade at 2pm.

The 2.2km parade route starts in Mayoral Drive, along Queen St, into Customs St West, up Albert St and ends at Albert and Wellesley Sts.

From 3.15pm to 5.15pm there will be a stage show in Aotea Square with music, acrobatics, singing and performances including Dane Rumble and Nesian Mystic.

All inner city roads will be closed from midday until 4pm.

Train services will run from all stations including Pukekohe and Helensville and special trains will depart Helensville, stopping at Waimauku, Huapai and all stations between Waitakere and Britomart.

Regular bus services will be operating to the parade with extra capacity on some services.

There will also be extra ferry services from Northcote Point, Birkenhead and Bayswater.

For information on schedules and fares go to www.maxx.co.nz or call the MAXX contact centre on (09) 366 6400.

Parking is available at city council ParkRight carparks Downtown, K Rd and Victoria St and vehicles can exit for free between midday and 6pm.

People were advised to get into the city before noon to avoid frustration with traffic and parking.

For more information about the parade go to www.santaparade.co.nz