Santa parade gets ‘bigger and bigger’

By Jules Chin

Adding some cuteness to the parade were puppies, from left, Mana and Nova on the LJ Hooker float. PHOTOS: JULES CHIN

The Upper Waitaki Young Farmers and their dogs.

The Farmers Market float.

Deadpool, known as "Marvel Jesus", was one of the many "superheroes", along with biblical figures, cartoon characters and animals which took part in the parade.

Representing the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Show at the parade were Catherine Maxwell and her ponies CR, front, and Harry.

Children and adults alike scramble for lollies at the Oamaru Santa Parade on Saturday.

Thousands of adults and children flooded Thames St for this year’s Santa parade.

There were more than 90 entrants, including from the Upper Waitaki Young Farmers, Oamaru Pacific Island Group, Columba Scouts, Oamaru Tap Dancing, the Farmers Market, and Barnardos.

The Oamaru Lions Clubs, Oamaru Fire Brigade and the North Otago Highland Pipe Band also joined the parade, along with other local community organisations and businesses.

At the Oamaru Santa Parade were (from left to right) Josh Keogh, of Wanaka, and his daughter Amelia, 5, and Danielle Duncan and Jake Rusbatch, of Oamaru with their son Riley, 5. PHOTO: JULES CHIN

Organiser Anton Roswell said it was "absolutely massive".

"It just seems to get bigger and bigger each year. This is the first year we’ve run out of lollies and we had 26,000 lollies."

Josh Keogh, of Wanaka, said he travelled to Oamaru to take his 5-year-old daughter Amelia to the parade as there was "nothing like it in Wanaka".

"It was a big thrill for her and the fact I had that as a kid growing up, it was nice to bring her back over here to see it. She thought it was excellent and already wants to come back next year."

Mr Keogh said the amount of sweets Amelia got in the lolly scramble at the parade was "epic".

Mr Roswell said more than 2000 people also attended Funzone by the harbour.