Damp Dacron threat cancels Santa parade

A drizzling Dunedin day, combined with the delicacy of Dacron, derailed the annual Santa Parade yesterday.

Organisers are now hoping the weather will hold up fine next Sunday, after what was to have been the 12th parade was postponed until then.

It was the first time the event has had to be postponed.

A disappointed event organiser, Malcolm Dodds, said the decision to postpone was made because many of the floats were made of Dacron, a material used in goods from sleeping bags to commercial upholstery.

It did not respond well to getting wet, and with about $200,000 worth of floats, it was decided not to take the risk.

"We are insured, but we're not insured for stupidity," Mr Dodds said.

Those involved were "gutted", and he was sorry for anyone who did not hear of the postponement and went to George St expecting the parade, but the call had to be made.

Organisers had thought at 9am the event could still go ahead, and after hours of work the first 10 floats were lined up in George St before rain meant "a mad dash" back to the parade's Willis St headquarters.

Reports of the weather south of Dunedin did not bode well for later in the day.

A couple of floats may not be available for next week because of previous bookings, but he expected there would still be about 80 floats and 130 vehicles.

There might be a cost to the event, because security and road closures might have to be paid for, but the companies involved, Fulton Hogan and Allied Security had been "incredibly good to us", and Mr Dodds hoped some arrangements could be made.

The long-term weather forecast was looking good for next week, at this stage, he said.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz

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