Nelson’s Santa Parade is back and is set to be bigger than ever with around 70 floats expected to grace Nelson’s CBD.
The NBS Nelson City Santa Parade to be held on Sunday 4 December at 1pm.
Starting at Montgomery Square the parade will weave its way along Hardy St, down Trafalgar St to finish at Trafalgar Park. Afterwards, parents can take their children to meet Santa at the nearby Tides Bar and Eatery.
Parade director Alex Bradley says the Nelson City Santa Parade Trust has constructed 20 new floats which will get their first outing this year.
“We’re really looking forward to a great parade. Anyone can join in, businesses, community groups, schools, scouts, or church groups can enter a float. We want as many people as possible.”
NCSPT board member Trevor Marshall says this year’s focus is on achieving real inclusion for the Nelson Tasman Community.
“I hope the parade will be a true reflection of groups coming together to celebrate in the spirit of Christmas.”
Working with Multicultural Nelson Tasman, floats have already been earmarked by the Indonesian, Thai, Pacifica, and Chinese communities with a Colombian Christmas bus to boot.
With an expected 70 floats, Alex would like to encourage as many groups to sign up on the website saying the event could be the largest in the South Island.
Prizes of up to $1000 will be awarded following public judging of the best floats. Alex says the parade may take up to an hour to pass as some groups may want to stop and dance.
Children will be encouraged to dress in the spirit of Christmas. If they want to join in the parade, they should arrive at 12pm for processing. Up to 30 children will be chosen to walk in front of Santa with $200 going to the best dressed, $100 for second prize, $75 for third, and the rest picking up $25 each.
The parade, like many other events, has been affected by Covid-19 over the past two years. Last year’s event was cancelled and in 2020 it was organised over a tight timeframe of just six weeks, taking place in a smaller form around the streets.
To register a float, email Alex at info@popupevents.co.nz
