Hungry for Christmas? Come to the Raetihi Christmas Carnival and Parade on December 8. We’ve got Haangi, Barbecued pickled pork, sausages, mussel fritters, Popcorn, icecream, coffee, and much much more. If the handmade clothes you’ve just bought from a talented stall holder don’t fit after that, there’s always the jewellery plants, garden ornaments and nick nacks. And later on when you’re hungry again, you can chow down on the cakes and preserves that you bought to help support our local charities and societies.

The Raetihi Christmas carnival is always a lot of fun. Hit the target on the drenching machine, and dunk the sucker who is sitting under the bucket of water. Or if it’s a hot day, you might like to volunteer to be the sucker on the chair. “I got dunked a few times one Christmas when it was hot” says organiser Lucy Conway, “It was quite refreshing”.

The kids always enjoy decorating their bikes and then joining in the Parade, which makes it’s way down Seddon St at 12.30. Spot prizes for decorated bikes, scooters and prams will be handed out at random in the morning. Floats and decorated vehicles will be judged at the Saleyards on Seddon St at 12 noon before the parade. “The theme this year is “Historical”, says Lucy, “but the theme every year is wondering who is going to turn up, and then being really impressed by how much effort everyone has put in. It’s free to enter, and the prizes are great, so Honey Winter and Noeline Pikari have a tough job judging every year”.

Rain or shine the Waimarino Community celebrate this day. Our shop verandahs provide cover if it’s wet. The music plays on, it’s always a fun day. Stalls open 9am. Live music from 9.30. Quick fire raffles all morning. Parade at 12.30. See you there!

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