Tauranga's festive season begins as Santa arrives in town

The Christmas season is alive and well in Tauranga with a swag of festive events planned for the next few weeks, beginning this weekend with the first of the region's Santa parades.

The event is one of more than a dozen taking place throughout the region ahead of Christmas.

Other events include Christmas at the Races, Carols on the Waterfront, a Christmas in the Park concert, and the Great KidsCan Santa Run which will feature hundreds of people dressed as Santa running along the beach to raise money for disadvantaged children.

The Pak'nSave Papamoa Santa Parade starts at 12pm on Sunday and Papamoa Kindergarten teacher Kerryn Montgomerie said their children had been preparing for the event all term.

''It has all come from the children's ideas - what they want, who they want and from that we've gone ahead and made it happen.''

Ms Montgomerie said there would be three guests featuring on their float, including their own queen who regularly flies over from London to visit the children.

''The parents have been working with the children. It's fabulous. I don't actually know who is more excited, the parents or the children.''

Papamoa Unlimited event manager Kate Percy said there were at least 40 floats taking part.

''There's a huge, broad spectrum of interest, from housing companies to children's centres. We have a really good representation of the whole community,'' Ms Percy said.

''It's a superhero theme this year and I imagine that will be a pretty cool spectacle with masks and capes, etc. Also, superhero can mean different things to different people so it will be interesting to see the different ideas people come up with.''

Other Christmas parades will be held in central Tauranga, Te Puke, and Katikati next weekend.