Biggest crowd yet welcomes festive season

Santa waves to the crowd at the Oamaru Christmas Parade. Photo by Andrew Ashton.
Santa waves to the crowd at the Oamaru Christmas Parade. Photo by Andrew Ashton.
Santa yesterday presided over what is being hailed as Oamaru's ''biggest ever'' Christmas Parade, as about 10,000 people waved and cheered at the big man himself, and took in an aerial display.

Parade organiser Anton Roswell said there had been more than 100 floats this year, and added that crowd numbers could have been about 10,000.

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''Everybody is saying it's the biggest they have ever seen. Last year, we had [a crowd of] 7,500.''

This year, there was also a flyover by a World War 2 Soviet Yakovlev Yak fighter plane and a helicopter formation display, and a free music concert at Oamaru Harbour.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the parade's success was a ''testament'' to both the organisers and the local community.

Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean said the parade was the biggest she had seen in Oamaru.

''We have seen a lot of people here from right round the region, which is good to see.

''Most have been very impressed with the aerial display so credit has to be given to the organisers for that, and the range of floats and attractions.''

andrew.ashton@odt.co.nz

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