Parades bring festive spirit

Little Learners Education Centre and Care co-owner Jason Rowntree and his three-year-old daughter Annalia are entering a Christmas float in tomorrow's Trustpower Christmas Parade for the first time. Photo / John Borren

Christmas cheer will hit the Bay of Plenty tomorrow, with the Tauranga city centre, Te Puke and Katikati Christmas parades all rolling through.

Little Learners Education and Care co-owner Jason Rowntree said it was the first year the centre had entered the Tauranga parade.

"Many of the children have seen the parade and we thought we'd like the kids to have a really cool experience," he said.

Mr Rowntree designed their float, named Little Learners Little Gem, which would be a decorated van with Rudolph the reindeer on top.

The children, aged two to five, would walk behind with staff and parents.

"The boys will be in elf T-shirts and the girls in Santa dresses," Mr Rowntree said.

Downtown Tauranga spokeswoman Fiona Corkery, said they were expecting "a real mixture" in the floats at the City Centre parade.

"We even have a lovely addition of the Taoist Tai Chi dragon," Ms Corkery said.

There would also be waterfront entertainment before, during and after the parade.

David Eddy from Lions Club Katikati said he was looking forward to the Katikati parade, and hoped for good weather.

Te Puke Development Group spokeswoman Lydia Wilkinson said she expected the Te Puke crowd numbers to be "very similar to previous years", but was excited about the craft and farmers market being held for the town.