Jason Kerrison for Christmas at the Park: Hawke's Bay spoilt for choice with festive season events

Jason Kerrison has been announced as lead act for Christmas at the Park. Photo / Supplied

Christmas is a little more than two months away and plans are already in play for Hawke's Bay events, on the premise Covid alert levels don't play spoilsport.

Hawke's Bay's biggest Christmas party, Property Brokers' Christmas at the Park, is on track to go ahead as planned on December 4.

Headlining the event is Opshop lead singer Jason Kerrison.

Kerrison and his band will be singing their best-loved tunes from the Opshop and The Babysitters Circus songbooks, alongside brand new tracks, and some of Kerrison's own favourite party classics.

Event organiser David Trim, of Kaisen Charitable Trust, said they were "very excited" to be able to bring Kerrison to Christmas at the Park.

"This past year has been tough for event managers and artists alike, and maybe on December 4 we will have the right combination of time, location and entertainer to keep Christmas on track in Hawke's Bay."

Trim said managing events with multiple outcomes to consider and plan for was like running three events at once and "really hard work".

"This is my 13th year organising Christmas at the Park and we haven't had to cancel or postpone one yet. Long may this continue."

Kerrison is a multi-platinum, multi-award-winning singer-songwriter and producer.

After Opshop and The Babysitters Circus, Kerrison continued to write, record and perform, between fencing and building projects on his block of land in Northland.

In 2011, he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for Services to Music.

This year's Christmas at the Park will be held at Anderson Park, Napier.

Other entertainment lined up includes an hour of Christmas carols, local artists and bands, with the unique pyrotechnics display, which has become one of the most popular parts of the event.

"This year's pyro show will be very different from past years, as we have produced a new concept in multi-dynamic storytelling," Trim said.

The nativity story will be told, overlaid with music and choreographed in the sky using a variety of light forms.

This year's pyrotechnics will not feature any loud explosions and is the result of several years of planning.

Two hundred volunteers will produce and run the evening.

Christmas at the Park is a free event for several thousand people each year. Photo / Ian Cooper

The Anderson Park event is the only free Christmas concert of its size in Hawke's Bay and Trim is adamant about keeping it free to enter.

"This is a great way for people of all walks of life to gather together and celebrate Christmas as a community."

The Harcourts Christmas Parade in Napier is also gearing up to be held on December 5.

It will showcase and celebrate the community's artistic talents and cultures linking to the celebration of Christmas around the world.

The parade will start at Clive Square and travel down Tennyson St, turning right into Hastings St, right into Emerson St and finish at Clive Square.

The parade will be followed by a Christmas Fiesta in Lower Emerson St and Clive Square.

With lots of Christmas displays on the day, there's bound to be something for everyone to enjoy.

The Wonder Christmas Markets 2021 are prepping to go ahead on December 4 and 5 as well.

They will feature a curated line-up of quality stallholders and food vendors coming together to create a very special festive experience.