The Auckland Farmers Santa Parade was founded in 1934. The inaugural parade was led by several horse-drawn carts accompanied by a bunch of colorful characters. Over the years, the parade has grown to become a large-scale event featuring more than 150 beautifully decorated floats and 4,000 participants. It attracts over 250,000 people every year.
The parade was conceived by Robert Ladlaw as a gift of fantasy and fanfare for the children of Auckland. As the event’s main audience consists of kids, most floats represent fairy tale, cartoon and comic book character such as Aladdin, the Simpsons, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Cookie Monster, Bambi, Superman, and more.
Several dozen floats represent the cultural diversity of today’s Auckland, creating an unforgettable festive atmosphere. They are accompanied by amazing giant balloons, marching bands and performers. The parade culminates in the special appearance by Santa Claus.
The parade route is 2.2 kilometers (about 1.4 miles) long. It starts at the corner of Cook Street and Mayoral Drive, turns left into Queen Street, travels down Queen Street and left again into Customs Street West then up Albert Street, ending at Albert and Wellesley Streets. The parade starts at 1 pm and lasts for about an hour and a half. There’s also pre-parade entertainment which begins at about 12 pm, it includes giveaways and product sampling hosted by sponsors and partners.
The Auckland Farmers Santa Parade is followed by Santa’s Party held in Aotea Square. The party features a variety of stage performances and a special appearance by Santa. There are fairground rides, delicious food and awesome giveaways.
The parade is usually held on the last Sunday in November. However, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, the event is moved to the first Sunday in December.
Photo by Craig
