Dragons, dinosaurs out on parade

Disney princesses, Chinese dragons, and dinosaurs are just some of the magical sights to be seen tomorrow at the Kirikiriroa First Credit Union Christmas Parade.

Parade organiser Sammy Herkes from Showing Waikato said she can hardly decide what she’s most excited for.

“It’s so hard to choose, but I think I’m most excited for either the Volkswagen Kombi Van, or the roller derby group, who will be skating down the street with the floats”, said Herkes.

The parade, which has been running with the trust since 2004, is expected to attract around 20,000 people, and will also be livestreamed on Facebook. Even with the predicted rainy forecast, Herkes said she’s not worried.

“In the past it’s rained and it’s still been pretty popular”, she said. “We’ve got some amazing floats. I could sit here listing them for ages.

“There’s the First Credit Union, they have their confetti cannon. They’re also doing some giveaways this year in our pre-parade.

“We have Legends Unleashed, who do like a dinosaur museum. They’re doing a dinosaur Christmas float which will be awesome.”

One of the most creative floats she’s seen was from Mcleod’s Cranes, who used a cherry picker. The bucket was turned into a giant Santa sack, with kids sitting inside.

Although parades in New Zealand aren’t allowed to throw lollies from floats anymore, handing them out works just as well, said Herkes. Parade entrants such as Enchanted Entertainment love handing the lollies out to the kids.

“The Enchanted group is amazing at what they do. It was kind of strange giving them the lollies to give away last year, because I looked up and there were just all these Disney princesses looking down at me waiting for their lollies.”

Part of the aim this year is to spread the Christmas cheer as far and wide as possible. Herkes said there are many different cultural groups that will join the parade, and a new Santa in the Suburbs initiative is being introduced.

“In previous years, it used to be that the cars would drive around with the characters such as Jingles, who is the Hamilton Christmas elf. But this year we’re introducing Santa in the Suburbs, and working with community centres. So they will put on events, and we’ll bring the characters and lollies to those.”

Many cultural communities were encouraged to sign up for the parade. There will be floats from the Waikato Chinese Community, a Nepalese community group, and a Te Ao Māori float which will display the story of Māui and the sun.

“We try to be very welcoming to all cultures. Of course there are some churches that enter so the parade does have that religious aspect. But it doesn’t have to be just about religion or any specific group,” said Herkes.

“We want it to be inclusive to everyone.” The pre parade for the First Credit Union Christmas Parade will begin at 1.15pm tomorrow.

The parade will begin at 2pm, starting at the corner of Rostrevor and Anglesea Sts, travelling down to finish at the corner of Anglesea and Knox Sts.

If you’re not in Kirikiriroa this weekend, here are some other Christmas parades coming up around the region:

Te Awamutu, Dec 3; Huntly, Dec 2; Matamata, December 2; Whitianga, Dec 3; Cambridge; Dec 3; Putāruru, Dec 8; Thames, Dec 9; Coromandel town Dec 10; Te Kauwhata, Dec 15.