Cruise ships boost for Santa Parade

Dunedin Santa Parade volunteer Warren Ockwell (left) and chairman Dean Driver put the finishing...
Dunedin Santa Parade volunteer Warren Ockwell (left) and chairman Dean Driver put the finishing touches to a float yesterday for tomorrow's parade. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.

The final preparations are being made for tomorrow's annual Dunedin Santa Parade.

The 16th parade is expected to be swelled by thousands of cruise-ship passengers in Dunedin.

More than 6000 passengers and crew will arrive in Port Chalmers at 7am tomorrow on Pacific Pearl and Voyager of the Seas, before departing at 6pm.

Cruise-ship buses will relocate from the Octagon carriageway to Cumberland St, outside Countdown, for the day. The parade starts at 3pm tomorrow at the former BP service station on the corner of Regent Rd and George St and travels to the Octagon.

''We're expecting a big crowd - anything from 30,000 to 50,000 people. The cruise ships make a huge difference,'' Dunedin Santa Parade Trust chairman Dean Driver said yesterday. Any postponement will be broadcast on Classic Hits 89.4 and More FM 97.4.

''We're a bit concerned about the weather but, if it is rained off, it will be held at the same time the following Sunday,'' he said.

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement