Editorial: Weather to blossom for festival

The Hastings Blossom Parade will feature floats, colour and lots of fun.

The weather is meant to clear tomorrow just in time for the Hastings Blossom Parade.

The parade has a long and colourful history and I'm sure it evokes memories for thousands of Hawke's Bay people.

My early memories of it are being in awe of the huge, colourful floats covered in paper and real flowers.

It was a sight to behold for a little person.

The parade was a bit like the annual show at the showgrounds and the Highland Games - they were events not to be missed.

The parade, which made its first appearance on our streets in 1950 to mark the start of the fruit season, was the beginning of 22 years of dedicated work by hundreds of people to create elaborate floats.

It took a break from 1972, returning in the 80s.

These days the floats might not be quite so elaborate but it's still loud, colourful and fun to watch.

Many businesses use the parade as a way to advertise specials handing out flyers along the way. Good on them, that's using your initiative, it's not often they get the chance to be seen and heard by so many people.

Last year I lined the streets along with hundreds of other people and watched marching girls, school groups, floats and bands march through the streets.

If I remember rightly it was rather cold - as it might well be tomorrow - but that won't stop all the dedicated people who have been working on their floats or looking forward to taking part from marching on.