Hundreds enjoy the festivities

Siblings Zoe, 5 (left), and Lily He, 9, play in the water zorb ball during the Winton Open Day and Santa Parade on Saturday.

Members of the Waimatuku Southern Scenic Highland Pipe Band led a convoy of floats down Great North Rd in the parade.

Hundreds of families and visitors from other parts of Southland turned up in their droves for the pre-Christmas event and embraced the family-friendly and festive activities.

Fur baby fans Alexie Blair, 10 (left), Myah Lapsley, 14 (back) had fun cuddling up to their brand new four-legged friends held by Val Simpson (centre) and her daughter, Lisa Simpson (right).

A sprinkling of showers during the day did not put off the Deep South community from taking part in the day’s events and enjoying the carnival-like atmosphere.