Floats will parade the streets of Kamo this weekend signifying summer, better weather and Christmas.
The Kamo Village Festival - which starts off with buskers and is followed by the Kamo Christmas Parade and entertainment and stalls at Kamo High School - is on tomorrow.
The event has been running for more than 30 years and is now a popular event on the calendar with many seeing it as Whangarei's parade, said Kamo Community Inc chairman Lindsay Caley.
"It's very important and it is something Kamo has always done. People see it as Whangarei's Christmas parade. It's a sign of summer, the weather is better and it shows Christmas is coming," he said.
The main road in Kamo will be closed from 9.30am with buskers entertaining punters before the parade begins.
"We want to encourage people to head down the main street and into shops. We'll have dancing and the roller derby girls. Basically it's the first year we've really given it a try because last year it was a bit wet," he said.
The parade will kick off at 11am led by bikers who will later head to Whangarei Hospital to deliver toys to the children's ward. Mr Caley said there were about 18 floats already entered in the parade and he expected four or five more on the day.
Following the parade there will be a gala at Kamo High School.
"There will be bouncy castles, motorised cars, Santa's grotto and more," he said.
From 9.30am to 12pm Kamo Rd from Station Rd to Wakelin St will be closed. From 11am-12pm Station Rd from Boswell St to Kamo Rd, and Kamo Rd from Wakelin St to Carlton Cres will be closed. From 8am to 11am Boswell St (south end) Grant St, Wakelin St and Wilkinson Ave will be closed.