Thousands defy the rain to attend Christmas in the Park

Fireworks over the stage as Lavina Williams and Tami Neilson sing Jump for My Love. Photo / Chris Loufte

Thousands of Aucklanders defied a deluge of rain to make it out for the annual Christmas in the Park show.

Chart-topper Stan Walker headlined this year's festivities - the 23rd year of the event - in Auckland Domain where honky-tonk songstress Tami Nielson, Vince Harder, Lavina Williams, Barry Conrad and Nyree Huyser also featured.

Brady Peeti had the biggest night of the role - playing the role of Santa - during the annual Xmas concert which was presented from a brand new high tech stage, featuring a 66 metre arc of LED screens offering one of the widest panorama projections ever presented in New Zealand.

Raukura School Kapa Haka perform Poi E. Photo / Chris Loufte

The event was MC'd by Jason Gunn and is set to feature in a 60-minute TV special to be broadcast on TV2 next Sunday night.

Concert-goers also dug deep for charity, with donations being collected for Youthline.

Mina Harrop, 4, enjoys dancing to the stage performance by Raukura School Kapa Haka of Poi E at Christmas in the Park. Photo / Chris Loufte