Santa Parade 2008

Takaka - Saturday 20 December 2008

A parade by Golden Bay's Collectable Vehicle Club, then a visit by Santa in his sleigh, a performance by Takaka Citizens Band and the Motueka Pipe Band. This year the floats theme was nursery rhymes. And it rained!

Facts and Footnotes

Santa Parade Defies Hairy Weather

The rain came down in sheets and the wind howled, blowing umbrellas inside out, but the band played on.

While some Christmas events throughout the region were cancelled due to bad weather, the hardy souls of Takaka were undeterred, despite 45mm of rain falling on the township over the weekend.

At what must have been the soggiest Santa parade to be held in Takaka, kids on bikes sloshed through puddles up Commercial St on Saturday while others dressed as nursery rhyme characters paraded on open-topped floats.

Some adults also got into the spirit of the occasion by donning fancy dress, including Mik Symmons, who dressed up as Batman and handed out what became soggy bookmarks.

The Takaka Citizens Band was to have led the parade, but set up under a shop awning and played jolly Christmas songs. The lucky ones kept dry inside vintage cars, including Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne, who was one of the judges of the event.

The event was organised by the Collectable Car Club of Golden Bay. Representative Shirley Bayliss said the club would set another date to present the prizes for the best floats.

A 1900 traction engine dubbed "Little Honey" led the procession, followed by floats, fire engines, collectable cars and, of course, Santa in his sleigh.

For English immigrant and new Takaka resident Jo Grace, who watched the parade with daughter Harriett, the event was "absolutely brilliant".

"It comes from the heart. We thought it was even more important to turn up, because of the weather."

(text from The Nelson Mail - 22 Dec 08)

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