Te Awamutu has welcomed in Christmas 2024 in style with a massive turnout for its annual Christmas parade on Saturday.
And on the day when fans turned out to watch an A-league soccer match in Auckland, Te Awamutu AFC collected the best overall award.
John Austin Ltd’s entry, including a giant John Deere S770 Combine was people’s choice winner. BestStart Educare beat Cheer Addiction to win the commercial section and Te Awamutu AFC won the best club-not for profit section from The Irish Society.
John Austin’s green giant was an imposing sight. Photo: Roy Pilott
And at the end of it all – Santa and his helpers. Photo: Roy Pilott.
The parade makes its way down Alexandra Street in Te Awamutu.
The News camera was on hand to catch some pictures and videos as residents lined Alexandra Street and Arawata Streets – some even watched from an upstairs vantage point while having lunch.
The Te Awamutu Rotary parade featured fairies, flash cars, loud cars, extremely loud cars, sports clubs, play centres, a brass band, a pipe band, police, the fire brigade, St John, lots of happy children – and a huge number spectators.
Organisers Rotary moved the day of the event from a Sunday to a Saturday to make it easier to secure volunteers and the switch paid dividends in terms of public participation.
The parade even had its own Christmas fairies.
Mayor Susan O’Regan with husband John Hayward and daughter Lily wave to the crowds from the back of a 1973 Cadillac Convertible El Dorado.
Despite some dark clouds in the morning – and the hint of the very slightest spot of rain about the time the police siren signalled the start of the parade, the weather could not have been kinder.
It was standing room only at ground level – but patrons at Fahrenheit had a clear view from above.
Twirling, skating and cartwheeling in the Te Awamutu Christmas Parade.
The Te Awamutu Brass Band was bold as, err, brass.
There were low fives from the driver and equally friendly canines on parade from Previous Paws.
The cheery children from Cheer Addiction featured in the commercial section.
The Pippins were out in force.
No Christmas Parade without Santa Claus.
