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Home / The Country

Local Focus: Blossom Parade a blooming success

Patrick O'Sullivan
By Patrick O'Sullivan
NZ Herald·
15 Sep, 2018 09:29 AM2 mins to read

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Hastings Blossom Parade 2018. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Thousands thronged the streets today at the annual Hastings Blossom Parade, on a warm and sunny spring day.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said it was a "wonderful success".

"Look at all the people lining the streets - it's a wonderful celebration of spring," she said.

"It is who we are in Hastings. We love blossom."

Read more: Hastings Blossom parade attracts thousands
Hastings Blossom Parade coming together
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For 101-year-old Marjory Francis, Saturday's parade is a good chance to remember the glory days of the 1950's, when she would take her children to the parade.

Brittany House, where she resides, were a part of the parade and declared her their resident Parade Queen.

The first Blossom Parade was held in 1950.

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The event grew in popularity, attracting people from all over the lower North Island.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing. In 1960 a brawl broke out following a postponement.

"Lots of people used to come from Wellington in trains and all sorts, " Parade Director, Lyn Mackie said.

"This particular year it rained and a few of the guys went to the pub. Something happened - I'm not quite sure what.

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"They call it the Battle of Hastings. The fire people came out and turned the hoses on to everybody."

The Parade was put on hold in 1972 but re-established in the 1990s and today in 2018 its appeal is just as strong, attracting thousands of people from around the region.

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