The skies may have been gloomy but there was plenty of colour on the ground at the Hastings Blossom Parade on Saturday.
Hundreds lined the streets of the city centre as marchers, walkers, flag bearers, stilt-walkers, marching girls and kooky characters danced and waved at the crowd.
Many more sat atop floats,
adorned in their spring-time best.
The Air Training Corp No11 squadron took three months to construct its float - but the hard work paid off as its blossom-covered replica plane won Overall Best Float.
Judges Fiona Hislop and Suzette Major were impressed by how much work was involved and enjoyed the fact that the plane bridged the gap between the old and new eras of the 60-year-old parade.
Ms Hislop said it was "very, very hard to judge" other category winners, some of which were "just beautiful".
Forty groups took part in the parade and displayed various themes from Greek mythology, to farm animals to Scottish dancing.
A pipe band led the procession, while traditional Pacific Island music, Southern Stars steel drumming and Wellington's Batucada Brazilian-style band kept up the festive beat.
Parade director Keith Thorsen was impressed with this year's turnout.
"People put in a heck of a lot of work on their floats," he said.
"I don't think [other] people know how much work is involved making hundreds and hundreds of thousands of blossoms."
He was pleased to see more community groups taking part because "that's what it's all about".
A display tracing the parade's 60-year-old history is open for free public viewing at the Hastings City Art Gallery until the end of the Blossom Festival.
