Despite some rain earlier in the morning, the North Otago community came out in droves to view the yearly Waitaki District Santa Parade — and Santa and his helpers brought the snow.
There were more than 90 entrants in the parade, including from the Columba Scouts, Athletic Marist Junior Rugby, Age Concern Otago, Barnardos, Hato Hone St John and the Oamaru Combined Churches.
The Oamaru Lions Clubs, Oamaru Fire Brigade and the North Otago Highland Pipe Band also joined in, along with other local community organisations and businesses.
Organiser Anton Roswell said he was "over the moon" with how the parade went.
"It was fantastic. It was bigger than last year, and the rain disappeared right at 11am at the start of the parade and we got the aeroplanes to come in at the very end as a finale instead of a start to it."
The "Full Noise" Yakovlev Yak-3 aircraft that flew over Thames St at the end of the parade was well appreciated by the crowd.
Mr Roswell said the parade "was a good Christmas gift to the community".
Movie character favourites the Grinch and the Minions even put in an appearance.
Georgia Taylor, of Oamaru, was there with her husband Gavin and their children Charlotte, 5, Peyton, 3, Becky, 2 and Thomas, 1, as well as other family members.
She said the parade was "good fun".
"It was awesome. We come every year to see Santa with the kids; they got lots of lollies," she said.
After the parade, many people headed to "The Funzone" in the harbour area, featuring many local businesses and competitions including Oamaru Honda with a children’s motorbike up for grabs.
It was a big day of fun for children and their families with a massive 40m television, Pippity-Pop Balloonologist, face painting, a tank display, free train rides all day and free entry to Oamaru Penguins.
