The South Otago Festival Trust has announced it will host a revamped "Christmas celebration" for Balclutha and the wider Clutha district on Saturday, December 1.
The Christmas Celebration will include the Clutha Country Christmas Market, Can Cruise by the Big River Bikers, and a Christmas parade followed by entertainment.
South Otago Festival Trust event co-ordinator Jean Proctor said the parade was a new event for the trust, replacing the annual Christmas concert.
"It's really exciting. I can't remember the last time we had a Christmas parade in Balclutha."
She encouraged community groups, businesses, clubs, teams, and individuals to take part in the parade and said participation was varied and could include decorated floats, individual costume decoration, team marching and activities.
The parade will travel through the main retail sector of Balclutha.
A number of interested residents have already contacted her about taking part in the parade.
Beginning in Balclutha at 9am, the Big River Bikers will travel to Kaitangata, Clutha Valley and Clinton before returning to Balclutha in time to be in the parade's finale and deliver canned donations to the Salvation Army's food bank.
The parade will begin at Shand House and travel down Clyde St.
A section of State Highway 1 will be closed during the parade and detours will be in place. Following the parade there will be entertainment in a closed-off part of Elizabeth St. Acts will include South Otago musicians Vickie Evans and Paige Gardner. A marquee will be erected in the event of poor weather.
The trust hopes all those taking part - from parade participants, market stall holders, to members of the community attending the celebration - will take canned food as a contribution for the food bank.
The 2011 Can Cruise brought in 1500 items for the food bank and Mrs Proctor said the aim was to double it this year to 3000.
Forms to register for the parade or stall sites can be downloaded from www.cluthacountry.co.nz or collected from Development House in John St.
