Community
It’s that time of year again when organisers of the iconic Southland Santa Parade are starting to get busy with plans for the big annual event.
This year the route of the parade will change again slightly, because of tougher restrictions from Waka Kotahi regarding transport management.
Event manager Alice Pottinger said it will still be a 3km circuit around the city, but they’ll use both sides of Dee Street before finishing back at the Gala Street reserve. It cuts out going down Tay and the down Kelvin on to Gala. This will free up a good part of town from being closed off.
Held annually on the last Saturday in November by the Southland Christmas Parade Charitable Trust, the event first started back in 1999, and has in the past attracted a crowd of between 17,000 and 20,000 people.
Local businessman John Green and former Southland Times editor Fred Tullet kicked it off by rallying around the business community to get enough funding to build the initial floats.
Over the years more floats have been added, and this year Alice said there will be one new one – a surprise to the public right up to the last minute.
The four Southland Mayors also turn up in costume and last year Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark decided to dress up as a skeleton.
Alice said as always they are looking for volunteers to help out – everything from street marshalls, to performers and those wanting to help with costumes on the day.
People were also needed to carry out float maintenance and that will start happening early next month for the November 25 event.
The gala day was a great success last year with school groups performing, along with two brass bands in the reserve – food and family entertainment being the focus. It starts from 2:20pm at Gala reserve.
Alice has been involved in the event for the past 10 years and said she just loves catching up with all of the different people who participate every year.
“We’re pretty lucky to have such a range of cultures and community groups involved.”
whatsoninvers.nz founder Mike Sanford said the business has been involved with the Santa parade for ten years now and is such a great community event.
“The organisers have had to be innovative in 2020 during covid restrictions, by taking the parade out of the city centre and on tour around the streets and suburbs of Invercargill.”