After an amazing event last year, this year’s annual Te Awamutu Rotary Christmas Parade yesterday (7 Dec.) turned out to be another amazing community event again with an overwhelming community turnout.
The weather could not have been kinder as it did not rain despite some dark clouds in the morning.
The theme for Saturday’s parade was a White Christmas – themes of white, Snoopy, snowmen and snowflakes.
Massive local support made the event a great success. The parade cheered the Christmas-theme decorated floats that featured giant agricultural machinery, local businesses,play centres, fire brigade, animal control unit of Waipa Council, Fire Brigade volunteers, St Johns, sports clubs such at Te Awamutu AFC and Ōhaupō Rugby Club, etc. There was a fleet of old, classic cars also. The effort gone into and quality of the floats on display was visible for all to see and appreciate.
The parade started from Selwyn Lane at 11am and travelled along Mahoe St to Arawata St, then turning onto Arawata St then on to Alexandra St. It returned to Selwyn Lane following the same route
The float categories were commercial/businesses, service clubs and societies, and children and youth.
The people’s choice award for the event was won by John Austin Ltd – a family-owned agricultural contracting business that has been servicing the agricultural community for over 44 years. The first place overall for the event went to the Te Awamutu AFC.
The float categories were commercial/businesses, service clubs and societies, and children and youth. Other details of winners were not immediately available.
The Rotary Christmas Parade is run entirely by volunteers who enjoy helping spread the Christmas spirit of Peace and Goodwill to their local community.
The parade was shifted back to a Saturday this year after a couple of years of trial runs on Sunday.
The event was made possible because of Te Awamutu Rotary’s partnership with Waikato Construction Management Ltd and Coresteel Waikato, along with support from Waipā District Council, Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board, Waipā Networks and the donations received from float parade entrants.
