Santa Claus is coming to town for A Very Rotorua Christmas

Don't expect to see a lot of fake snow at this year's Christmas Parade and Festival.

The theme A Very Rotorua Christmas is all about celebrating Christmas in "our own beautiful city", according to Alia Ryan from Boost Events, organisers of the parade and festival.

Beginning at 4pm on Saturday, the parade winds its way through the central business district and ends on the Village Green where the festival will be held.

"We're expecting between 30 and 40 floats on Saturday," Ryan said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how people showcase Christmas in Rotorua."

The festival will feature lots of interactive activities for the young ones including the opportunity to make reindeer food.

"There's an exciting new festival line up that will take place at the Lakefront with a mix of entertainment, activities and food. There will be a short prizegiving for the winning floats before the Christmas movie is played on the big screen."

Rotorua residents who voted on what the movie should be will be pleased to know Arthur Christmas, an animated Christmas comedy, was the winner.

As part of the parade and festival, people are being encouraged to bring along a can to donate to the Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal 2017. This year's appeal, run with The Rotorua Weekender and The Hits 97.5FM, is collecting non-perishable food items to help the Rotorua Salvation Army foodbank.

Cans will be collected by The Hits 97.5FM team near Santa's Grotto on the green.

The parade begins outside Rotorua Primary School on Rangiuru St before turning right on to Arawa St and then left on to Ranolf St. Floats remain on Ranolf St until turning right into Pukuatua St, then left into Fenton St and finally left on Whakaue St and on to the Village Green.