Despite rain earlier in the morning, the North Otago community came out in droves to view the annual Waitaki District Santa Parade.
There were more than 90 entrants, including 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 the parade, along with other 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 Yak3" aircraft that flew over Thames St at the end of the parade went down well with 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 at the parade.
Georgia Taylor, of Oamaru, was there with her husband Gavin and their four 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," Mrs Taylor said.
After the parade many people headed to "The Funzone", which was back again this year 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 and free train rides available all day as well as free entry to Oamaru Penguins.
