Images: Santa Claus has come to town

News release santa ak – 1
November 27, 2006

Santa Claus has come to town

Hardly dashing through the snow, but still in his open sleigh on a balmy November Sunday, Father Christmas came to town today in the annual Farmers Santa Parade in Auckland City.

Aucklanders turned out in droves to welcome Santa Claus, with officials estimating the crowd at a massive quarter of a million girls, boys and grown-ups.

The organisers describe the 2006 parade as one of the best in a long history of welcoming in the yuletide season.

“We really couldn’t have asked for a better start to Christmas could we?” enthused Parade Manager Pam Glaser.

Ms Glaser says new floats in the parade received a tremendous welcome.

“The support this year has been fantastic and has enabled us to really grow the parade. The new floats were a huge hit – Snakes & Ladders, Fantasy Garden, By the Seaside, Happy Feet and the Enchanted River Boat – the crowds really responded to them.”

New characters mingled with the stalwarts of parades gone by – the marching girls, cultural groups, stilt walkers, bands and clowns. Big favourites with the youngsters were new-comers Postman Pat and Strawberry Shortcake as were beloved old-time characters Bob the Builder and Scooby Doo.

Farmers Managing Director and CEO Rod McDermott is delighted with the event.

“It just gets better every year, all of us at Farmers get great pleasure in helping to bring an afternoon of fun to so many of our Auckland families . ” Mr McDermott says.

“And I’m sure Santa had a marvellous start to Christmas. Now he’s off to Christchurch and Hamilton for their parades and I’m sure he’ll get just as rapturous a welcome as he did in Auckland.”

The joyous occasion also has a wonderful legacy with donations made on the day to Koru Care helping to send some less fortunate Kiwi kids on an overseas trip of a lifetime.

ENDS

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