2 days Ago By Zanna Gillespie
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Tāmaki Makaurau as the city centre gets into the spirit with the inaugural tree-lighting ceremony and the Farmers Santa Parade both taking place this weekend. If you’re not ready to jump on the Polar Express to Christmas town just yet, there are plenty of other ways to entertain yourselves this weekend including a one-day arts festival, free dance workshops, a water conservation day, Crowded House, the NZSO and a journey into outer space. 1) Farmers Santa Parade - Auckland CBD On Sunday the big guy in red will be making his grand entrance down Queen St, delighting little people and triggering much nostalgia for bigger people as well.
Generations of Aucklanders have attended this classic Christmas event, this year marking the 91st parade. While Santa has remained a constant, the parade has evolved throughout the years adding new floats and characters and retiring others as times have changed. Added to the line-up this year is the biggest children’s television icon of the 2020s, Bluey, and a float made entirely of Lego®.
Olympian Hamish Kerr will be opening festivities which includes pre-parade entertainment, the parade proper - an hour-long procession of floats and performers - and Santa’s after party in Aotea Square. As always, you need to make a transport plan, bring sunhats and raincoats - this is Tāmaki Makaurau after all - and don’t forget your Christmas spirit, no Grinches allowed. When: Sunday November 24, 12pm-1pm (pre-entertainment), 1pm-2pm (parade), 2.
30pm - 5pm (Santa’s party)..
