Whangarei Christmas Festival even more family friendly

Whangarei’s Christmas Festival will be more family friendly this year with an emphasis on making it easier for families with young children to attend.

The District’s supreme Christmas event is free to the whole community and will be held on Saturday 12 December at Toll Stadium.

“We have brought the whole show forward by half an hour so it starts at 5pm instead of 5.30 and people can start coming along from 4pm when gates open,” said Marketing and Events Manager Rachel O’Gorman, “and a little elf tells us Santa will even be coming along a wee bit earlier and the night will finish at 9.20pm.

“To bring everyone closer to create a more intimate atmosphere, the stage will be opposite the main grandstand, across the field, just in front of the terraces this year, instead of at the cricket end of the field.

“We’ll have three bouncy castles and a merry go round, and face painting and all of them will be free,” Mrs O’Gorman said.

“This year we have also worked with the Northland Playcentre Association to create the new Playcentre Preschool Fun Zone! Playcentre volunteers will be there providing some special areas in the fun zone; there will be festive play dough, handprints to make and take home, a nature play area and toddler active play equipment. There’ll also be a parents’ room in the area complete with couches and changing tables. The play equipment is for kids 6 years and Children in the area must be accompanied by an adult.”

Mrs O’Gorman said people can bring picnic blankets or low deck chairs and sit on the grass and there will be plenty food and beverage available for sale including hot dogs, hot chips, ice creams, slushies, frozen yoghurt, cuppacakes Indian curries, chicken kebabs, pork buns, churros coffee and soft drinks.

“You can bring along your own home-prepared food but not commercially prepared food like KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and so on.

“There will be glow sticks and products for sale on the night, just look out for the Kamo scouts walking around or find the Venues & Events Whangarei tent near the entrance. Elves will be walking around handing out candy canes, and stilt walkers and street theatre will be provided by Northland Youth Theatre.

“People can dress and up and get festive if they like and there’ll be prizes for best dressed.

Mrs O’Gorman revealed a great line up of on-stage entertainment hosted by More FM’s John and Toast, including Auckland covers band Union with Leza Corban who will be pulling out all the favourite hits. Local performances will come from Otium, Taylah Barker, Natlaie Wilson, Kawiti Waeford, Luke & Amberly’s duo Cavalcade, and the Whangarei Primary School choir. The Northpine Junior Santa Star Search, Fantasy Cheerleaders, Take 2, Hardcore Dance, Northland Rugby Cheerleaders, Rock n Roll Club, WADPA complete the line up. Finally Santa will visit and the night will end with a special fireworks finale.

Mrs O’Gorman said anyone who would like to give a little could bring a gift or non perishable item to put under the Christmas Tree, to be added to the Salvation Army’s Christmas hampers for less fortunate families in our community.

“We are really hoping that the changes and additions to the festival will make it easier for the whole Whangarei community to come along including families with young children who in the past might have thought it was too hard to get there.”

ENDS

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