Santa Lands in Bluff: The Grand Arrival Marks Gala Day Festivities This Sunday

Preparations are well advanced for Bluff’s Christmas celebration with the annual Parade and Christmas In The Bluff Gala Day scheduled for Sunday 10 December.

The Santa Parade, organised by Bluff Promotions, kicks off the day, starting at the top end of Gore Street (SH1) at the corner of Liffey Street at 1pm.

The parade will be led by the Bluff Town Crier and will feature floats, vintage and classic cars, marching groups, a miniature fire truck, children from both St Teresa’s and Bluff School’s plus the Bluff Kindergarten and Te Rourou. Motupohue St John Youth, Maori Wardens and Sanfords along with some SteamPunk groups and Steve-O The Stag will also be a part of it all.

The Bluff Coastguard and Santa Claus will round out the parade as they make their way down Gore Street to Palmer Street before turning into Barrow Street and into the Oyster Festival site where a spectacular Gala Day awaits.

The Gala Day festivities, organised by the Christmas In The Bluff Committee, will then get underway as Santa arrives ready to meet the children at the Santa Grotto for photos.

The Gala Day is always popular with something for absolutely everyone with plenty of activities, games and food for the kids, craft stalls, a chocolate wheel, the opportunity to vote for your favourite decorated wreath plus live music with Darcy Kerr.

One of the new attractions this year will be the Invercargill Library bringing their virtual reality headset for the kids to have a go on, a really unique experience.

Gala Day organiser Yvonne Pickford says, “the whole point of the Christmas in the Bluff Gala Day is about the kids and giving back – giving families the opportunity to have a fun filled day out – with parents knowing they can bring their children along without having to worry about the cost.

All the activities for the children are free along with hot chips, ice creams, candy floss and drinks. This day is for them. We know there’s a lot of families who are struggling out there at the moment so admission is free and so much of the activities are too!”

Parade organiser, Alison Patrick says, “we are looking forward to another great parade. The support from organisations and businesses has been great and it will make for another special parade before we arrive at the Oyster Festival site for more fun and entertainment.”

Support for the parade comes from NES – Network Electrical Servicing and their division, RTM – Road Traffic Management, the Foveaux Hotel, Lighting Direct and the Bluff New Life Church along with Rugby Southland while Talleys, Sanfords, South Port NZ Ltd support the Gala Day along with the Bluff Rugby Club and Splash Palace.”