Press release

Fantastic Christmas build up

Santa has taken up residence in Hastings, in a “fantastic, festive, wonderland” in the old Whitcoulls building in centre of the city near the clock tower.

His visit confirms that Christmas is just a few short weeks away.

Santa will be in his grotto each day collecting present lists, telling stories from the North Pole, and having his photo taken with his little visitors.

The wonderland is festooned with Christmas trees, twinkling lights and decorations, trains, and a gingerbread house.

This free display is open from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Saturday, and on Thursday’s 5pm to 7pm.

To help the less fortunate in the community, the Hastings Foodbank Trust has a collection bin on site for non-perishable food items, or gold coin donations are welcome.

Santa’s arrival is not the only sign that the Christmas season is full steam ahead.

The seven metre tall Christmas tree in the plaza took a team of workmen a full day to assemble and is undoubtedly a “giant” addition to the Christmas spirit filling the streets of Hastings this year, said Hastings City Business Association manager Susan McDade.

The Christmas flags are up, there are 90 two metre trees outside the doors of the city’s businesses, the beautiful metal trees in the pond are lighting up the night, and the hanging baskets have been replaced this week.

Christmas carols in Cornwall Park

The excitement will build further, with Christmas in Cornwall Park on December 13; a family fun afternoon including entertainment, followed by carol singing from 7pm. Santa is taking time away from his grotto to put in an appearance at 5pm.

A big draw card for the under-8s will be a specially set up play area with games, a bouncy castle, face painting, story time, and bubble machine. For older kids, Zeal is setting up a Youth Hangout with the Zeal music box and backyard games. On the community stage from 3pm to 6.15pm, 14 acts will entertain the crowd, including Youth Fusion and the winners of Hastings District Council’s Great Local Band Competition: Headlock.

At 6.45pm, just before the carol singing kicks off, $1000 will be given away, courtesy of TSB. Registrations for two prizes, bank accounts loaded with $500 each, will be taken at the TSB tent next to the Cornwall Park splash pad between 3pm and 6pm, with the winner announced on the community stage at 6.45pm.

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