Thousands expected for Kawerau Christmas in the Park

Thousands expected for this year's Kawerau Christmas in the Park. Photo/Supplied

Thousands are expected to fill the town centre for this year's Kawerau Christmas in the Park.

The full day of events on Saturday December 16 will kick off with the New World Kawerau Santa Parade starting at 11am from the Ron Hardie Recreation Centre.

The parade will do two laps of town before ending at Prideaux Park with prizegiving on stage at 12.15pm.

This will be followed by the Radio 1XX Community Christmas Concert featuring top local acts including the Kawerau Combined Choir comprising students from Kawerau Putauaki, Kawerau South, Te Whata Tau o Putauaki and Tarawera High Schools, Kawerau South School Music Group, duo Wairata and Hamone and soloist Raukura Munro of Tarawera High School.

Joining them on stage will be top local bands Made Alive, Feenix Band, Tait Kora, and Dunamis, with more acts to be announced.

The afternoon concert will be followed by a professional line-up of evening entertainment, directed by Chris Powley. Details of this will be announced soon.

Kawerau's Christmas in the Park is the Eastern Bay of Plenty's showcase festive entertainment event, which sees up to 10,000 people packing into Prideaux Park for the free celebration.

Kawerau District Council events and venues manager Lee Barton said this year's event promised to be fantastic.

"Kawerau Christmas in the Park attracts people from all over the district, as well as from outside the Bay of Plenty, and it's a great way to wrap up a successful year of events. There'll be something for everyone and I encourage everyone to come along for a fun family day out," she said.

Kawerau Christmas in the Park was a family-friendly event and drugs, alcohol, and gang regalia were not permitted.

The organisers would also like to remind event comers that Prideaux Park was a smoke-free venue.

Anyone interested in having a float in the parade can collect entry forms from New World Kawerau, Kawerau District Council and the Kawerau i-Site on Plunket St. Floats must be entered by December 12.

For more information visit www.kawerauchristmasinthepark.co.nz

Kawerau Christmas in the Park event timetable:

10am: Christmas parade floats meet at Ron Hardie Recreation Centre
11am: Parade starts, and completes two laps of town before ending at Prideaux Park
12.15pm: Prize-giving (on stage at Prideaux Park)
12.30pm – 5.15pm: Radio 1XX Community Christmas Concert
7.15pm-10pm: Evening variety show