By ALAN PERROTT
The jolly star of Sunday's annual Farmers Auckland Santa Parade has undergone a millennium makeover.
The traditional elves, chalets and snow-covered trees are history.
The all-new Santa 2000 float boasts rotating planets, flashing lights and silver, purple and orange spacesuits.
At least the unseasonable red suit and reindeer survived.
Float designer Peter Taylor, who has clocked up 20 parades, said it was time for a change.
"The Santa float has been around for about six years, so we thought we would do a completely new version for the new millennium."
Mr Taylor expects the change to have its knockers.
"I think when people see it they will either love it or hate it."
How can anybody hate Santa?
But if the thought of an extraterrestrial Mr Claus makes you choke on your Christmas pud, wait until you see the "Mountain of Terror" float.
Tiny tots may require parental guidance as the 10m-long, 4.5m-high float slides past spewing fireballs, smoke and water.
With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Mr Taylor suggested it was high time that the smiles were wiped off the children's faces.
"We are getting as far away from Christmas as we can."
The 2.2km parade begins at the corner of Mayoral Drive and Cook St at 2 pm.
It will then head down Queen St, turn left into Customs St, up onto Albert St, before stopping at the Wellesley St intersection.
It will take about 50 minutes for the 30 floats and 4000 performers to pass any given point.
An after-parade party will be held in Aotea Square from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Auckland City is gearing up for the 250,000 spectators expected to cram the parade route.
Free car parking is available at the Victoria St, Britomart, Downtown, Fanshawe St and Karangahape Rd car parks before noon.
But the parade route and much of the inner city will be closed to roadside parking from 6 am to 6 pm on Sunday.
No-parking signs will be put in place from 6 am Friday to give commuters warning. Offending cars can be towed from 6 am on Sunday.
The parade route, and the gathering and dispersal areas for the floats, will be closed to traffic for most of the day.
Santa ready to sleigh 'em with new image
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