Feast of festive cheer

Unison is helping to spread Christmas cheer with its sponsorship of the Fiesta of Lights from tomorrow. Photo / Glenn Taylor

Christmas celebrations will step up a gear in the Bay with several festive season events happening this weekend.

Thousands of people are set to attend the Cox Partners Christmas at the Park in Napier's Anderson Park tomorrow and Christmas in Cornwall Park, Hastings, on Sunday.

Other events on this weekend include The Fiesta of Lights, the Christmas Art and Craft Bazaar and the Hawke's Bay Berry Festival in Hastings, while the Tremains Christmas Lights extravaganza is on in both cities in the build-up to Christmas. The CHB Mail Twilight Carols will take place this Sunday in Waipawa.

Tomorrow's Cox Partners Christmas at the Park will feature New Zealand's first X Factor winner, Jackie Thomas, and Hawkes Bay's very own The Original Hicksville Swamp Stompers.

A member of the new act, Rick Toner, said: "The fun element and surprise of hearing your favourite song sung in the style of country is a humorous bent on the usual cover variations you hear performed live."

The show will run from 3pm to 9.30pm and organiser and manager of the Kaisen Charitable Trust David Trim said preparing an event of such a size was a huge task.

"We have to erect 1.3km of fencing, a massive stage, 36sq m outdoor screen, gateways and the full infrastructure of power, toilets and lights.

"Preparing an event of this size on a bare park takes months of planning and fundraising, and will involve about 200 volunteers.

"Christmas at the Park fully utilises the park with 20,000 people coming from all over Hawkes Bay to enjoy the atmosphere, surroundings and a great family night out", Mr Trim said.

In Hastings the annual Christmas in Cornwall Park will return this Sunday for the 129th time.

The day will kick off at 2pm, with entertainment, games and food available before the crowd will be invited to sing Christmas carols at 7pm.

Unison is getting into the spirit of Christmas, sponsoring two local festive events - The Fiesta of Lights and the Tremains Christmas Lights extravaganza in Napier and Hastings.

The Fiesta of Lights will open tomorrow at 9pm and run until January 3 at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds. Unison chief executive Ken Sutherland said the company was keen to help spread Christmas cheer.

The Tremains Christmas Lights route highlights homes, gardens, shops and buildings draped in lights in Napier and Hastings. Visit the Tremains website (http://www.tremains.co.nz/events/tremains-christmas-lights/) for map routes.

For last-minute Christmas shopping, The Christmas Art and Craft Bazaar is running every day until Wednesday December 24 at the Hastings Community Arts Centre.

Christmas festivities will continue in Waipawa, with the CHB Mail once again hosting its Twilight Carols event at Nelly Jull Park this Sunday.

From 5.30pm to about 8.30pm, the park will come alive with all things Christmas.

Carols, performances and food will be available, as well as a special visit from Santa.

A raffle for a Christmas tree stocked with presents will be available to enter, with all proceeds going to Starship hospital.

Aside from Christmas festivities, the Hawke's Bay Berry Festival will be celebrating all Hawke's Bay's fresh produce from 10am to 2pm tomorrow.

It will be at The Strawberry Farm at 1546 Pakowhai Rd, Hastings.

Fresh Hawke's Bay berries, bouncy castles, jam making demos, face - painting and fresh - fruit ice creams will be available for everyone to enjoy.