What's on this weekend

Farmers Santa Parade.

Here are some events to keep you busy this weekend.

You can run, but you can't hide. That fat fella in the red suit is everywhere. You can embrace him (see below) or avoid him (see below, too, and avoid):

1. Passing Parade

The big daddy of them all, of course, is the giant Farmers' Santa Parade - 80 years young and still thrilling generations of children. Small sorts can reach Santa via the parade website - no longer do you write to him c/- North Pole. For sweeter local, lo-fi versions on Saturday check out Onehunga's parade through the Mall (11.30am - 1pm) or Puketapapa's from the Mt Roskill shops on Dominion Road (10 - 2.30pm). Both of them let the party continue with bouncy castles, face painting, live entertainment and plenty of party food.

Details: Sunday 2pm (rain date next Sunday, December 7)

2. Avast me hearties

It's a little known fact that pirates like to celebrate with Christmas parties too. Captain Festus McBoyle and his piratical mates are joining the APO 4 Kids to dress up in best pirate style, for a sing-along, dance-along, conduct-along concert. Ideal for children aged two to five, parrots optional.

Details: Saturday, 10am and 11.30am. Auckland Town Hall

3. San-tastic

See Christmas morphed with the circus at Ponsonby Central's Christmas Party with fairies, face painters and the fat man join forces with clowns, musicians, magicians and jugglers from JP le Cirque. It goes on - kids' disco, giant lolly scramble and at 5.30pm there's the switching on of the lights.

Details: Saturday, 1-6pm. Ponsonby Central.

3. Pretty city

Childfund has built a Tree of Bikes nearly two stories high from donated bikes in front of the ferry building. These upcycled Christmas decorations remind us how bikes can change the lives of children in developing nations (go to their Gifts that Grow catalogue to give). Or take a road trip to the country town of Waiuku for their pretty Winter Wonderland display - animated Santas, holiday displays and more. The big guy himself is there on Sunday, and you can take the Glenbrook Vintage Railway to get there in magical style.

Details: Until December 17, lit each night between 8pm-10pm, Queens Wharf. Winter Wonderland until December 24, Waiuku Memorial Hall.

4. Strum-ble along

You know there's nothing more you'd like than hundreds and hundreds of ukuleles strumming their happy tunes. This weekend's Ukelele Festival, chaired by the happy Jackie Clarke has a terrific line up i- Will Crummer and The Rarotongans, the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra and international singer/songwriter Victoria Vox the The Kiwileles - NZ's's super-sized school ukulele orchestra. Workshops, brass bands for good measure, somewhere, someone is smiling.

Details: Saturday, 11am-4pm. The Trusts Arena, Henderson.

5. Round in circles

Too late to join in this year (you can enter up to 10pm Friday) but you can start planning for next year's Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge - the largest cycling event in the country . Now up to 8,000 riders from all over the world, and with 20 categories to choose from (from toddlers to 160km single lap and crazy-person multiple enduro laps) there's a ride for you. Or join in the day of partying and celebrating everything peddle, great prizes and good eats.

Details: Saturday, 6am-6pm. Tongariro North Domain, Taupo.