Santa returns

Getting ready for the return of the Santa parade after being cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic are (from left) Dunedin Santa Parade Trust chairman John Marsh, trustee Carmel Spencer and organiser Thomas Dodds.

As organiser, Mr Dodds was following in the footsteps of his father Malcolm Dodds, who established the event in 1998 with former Dunedin radio personality Peter Mac.

The parade starts at 3pm on Sunday from the Night ’n Day Regent store on George St and continues along the main street through to the Octagon, finishing by First Church of Otago in Moray Pl.

Mr Dodds said the trust had worked with the Dunedin City Council to ensure the floats would still be able to navigate the newly pedestrianised parts of George St.

They were confident the floats would still be able to pass, with one exception, a giant albatross float, which would be retired from the parade.