Some Christmas cheer will arrive in Bluff on Sunday 6 December when the annual Christmas Parade and Christmas In The Bluff Gala Day take place.
The Street Parade, co-ordinated by Bluff Promotions, gets proceedings underway starting at the top end of Gore Street (SH1) at 1pm, making its way to the Oyster Festival site where the festivities continue.
Already a large number of groups have committed to the parade with the Bluff Coast Guard, Bluff School, Foveaux Pearls Leisure Marchers, Southern Society of SteamPunk Steamologists, Phoenix Marching, Maori Wardens, Motuohue St John Youth Group and the Te Taurapa Tribal Nations Motorcycle Club and many more signing up including of course Santa Claus as he makes his way to the Oyster Festival site to meet and greet the children. There are some great prizes too for the best floats.
As the parade arrives at the Oyster Festival site everyone is welcome to come inside for a great day of family entertainment organised by the Christmas In The Bluff Committee with something for everyone to enjoy.
Santa will again be the star attraction as he meets the kids in the Santa Grotto for photos. Elsewhere there will be live music by the Freshies, mini jeeps, facepainting, astroball and the return of sumo wrestling! There are also plenty of new and unique games and competitions for the kids while for those slightly older there is the extremely popular craft stalls, ideal for those Christmas presents. Some stalls have eftpos but it is advised to bring cash.
A chocolate wheel will be operating and the Town Crier will be present while there is food aplenty at the many food stalls.
A Decorated Christmas Tree competition will be on display on the day with an opportunity to vote with a gold coin donation for your favourite.
Admission is free as is much of the entertainment underlining the family aspect of the event, particularly important at Christmas.
Parade co-ordinator Alison Patrick says, “interest is exceptionally high in this year’s parade,” while Debbie Fife of Christmas In The Bluff says, “it will be a good old day with something for everyone to look forward to. At one point in a turbulent 2020 the gala day was looking unlikely but a committee meeting made the decision to go ahead with it. As someone said “Christmas needs to come to Bluff!”
Any proceeds from this year’s event go to next year’s Christmas In The Bluff. Organisers of both the parade and the gala day are grateful to Sanford’s Salmon Fund, Bluff Real Estate, Foveaux Hotel, Talley’s, Bluff Rugby Club, Golden Age Tavern, the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival Committee and St John Bluff.
Anyone wishing to be a part of the parade can contact the co-ordinator, Alison Patrick on 03 212 7496 or at [email protected]
Inquiries regarding the Gala Day or anyone that would like to be a part of the Gala Day can contact Debbie Fife on 03 212 6800 or [email protected]