Santa Claus has been coming to town

Santa, with a jet ski for a sleigh, at the Oamaru Santa Parade on Saturday. Photo by Ben Guild.
Santa, with a jet ski for a sleigh, at the Oamaru Santa Parade on Saturday. Photo by Ben Guild.
Perhaps in deference to the warm weather, Santa traded his traditional sleigh for a jet ski during the annual Christmas Parade in Oamaru on Saturday.

The jolly one came to town in style, trailing a parade including 27 floats, featuring Ronald McDonald, Smurfs, beauty queens, angels, footie players, farm animals and dogs.

The parade also comprised a large number of trucks, fire appliances, representatives of St John, vintage tractors, cyclists and a pipe band.

A sizeable crowd spread out along Thames St, with the youngsters especially revelling in the atmosphere and spectacle. High jinks were limited by a ban on the use of water pistols from floats and lolly-throwing was also forbidden.

The parade took a new route this year, beginning on Usk St before dispersing at Itchen St at the southern end of Thames St.

Gary Watling, of the Radio Network, organised the parade.

 

 

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