Santa's cow was coming to town

REINDOG: Long haul pup heading to the North Pole. PHOTOS/CHERIE TAYLOR

The festive calendar is now in full swing, with a number of family-orientated summer events happening throughout the district on the weekend.

Lensman Dave Murdoch caught the action in Eketahuna on Sunday with a Christmas parade through town and a military show, and Cherie Taylor dropped in to the Carterton Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Record numbers turned out to catch a glimpse of Santa at Carterton's 15th annual Christmas Parade. Organiser Coral Aitchison said with the weather on their side, it was a marvellous day.

"It was a fantastic day. Of course the weather made a huge difference and there was a lovely feel in the street - having all the street stalls out contributed to everyone's enjoyment."

Highlights included Wings Over Wairarapa planes, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car, the decorated Pinfold's trucks and Totalspan's new "Sam the dog" float, which went on to win the prize for best business float.

Meanwhile, Eketahuna residents celebrated the beginning of the festive season with their first official Christmas Parade in 19 years.

Several hundred people lined the main street to watch the parade, before heading to the market day to look for Christmas bargains.

Santa was a crowd-pleaser with his red-nosed "reindeer" - a life-sized cow complete with antlers - winning the prize for the most unique float.

Maison, the Eketahuna Youth Group and the Eketahuna Play Group were awarded first, second and third prizes respectively for best floats.

And down at the rugby grounds Eketahuna's first military show, the Military Then and Now, went off with a bang.

Large crowds gathered to see a real Howitzer gun being fired, smoke and all, followed by a Vietnam battle re-enactment.

There were also displays of equipment ranging from the Boer War to Vietnam, and a troop carrier from Linton Military Camp.

Organisers Pauline and Robin Wilson hope the show's success will make it an annual event for Eketahuna.