Santa will be a busy man this year, with Whangarei gearing up for two Christmas parades.
The well-established Kamo parade is back this Saturday, while Onerahi is to hold its first parade in nearly 30 years on December 22.
Onerahi business owner John Clark said the motivation for restarting the Onerahi parade came from a revival of good vibes in the suburb.
"We've just had the official opening of the new upgrades and community spirit in the area is really high, so we want to capitalise on that and keep hold of that good feeling."
The day will start at 9am with music on the Onerahi Village Green. At noon, Christmas carols will begin, with the parade starting at 12.30pm.
But first, this Saturday the Kamo Christmas Parade will be bigger than ever. The parade will feature 45 floats, five more than last year. Hip-hop group the BB Shakerz will join in this year, along with the Whangarei Family Four-Wheelers, Whangarei Dog Training Association, Whangarei Filipino Society and more.
Parade organiser Alex Hannam said combining with events at Kamo's Clark Rd Chapel would make for a whole day of fun.
Activities will begin at 9am in the Clark Rd Chapel grounds next to Kamo Primary, and include a monster garage sale, clowns, face-painting, and coffee and cake for the grown-ups. The Kamo parade starts at 12pm.
• To register a float for the Onerahi parade, call Doug Smith on (09) 436 2254 or 027 602 5880.