Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Helensville Christmas Parade
Well, another Christmas Parade has been and gone (Sat, Dec 6).
This annual event is a real tribute to all those involved in organising it and running it on the day - the Business Association, all the groups and organisations who create the floats and displays, and of course the public who turn up year in and year out to watch it.
This year we were blessed with beautiful weather again; I can't remember a wet parade actually, though I guess over the years there must have been one or two!
I think it's the variety that makes the parade so great. It's not just traditional floats but kids on horses, clowns, classic vehicles - even dogs! And of course recognising faces on the floats makes it all the more fun and really gives it that community feel. Once again Oikoumene Forest had, in my opinion, the stand-out float - Don, you really look like a good old-fashioned ooh-arrr pirate!
The number of schools taking part was fabulous. In fact there were so many small children taking part, from schools, the Pony Club, River Valley Kindy, Sunny Days Preschool etc that it's amazing there were enough left to be spectators! I think it's these kids who deserve the REAL thanks - they pretty much give up the chance to watch the whole parade and enjoy the rest of the festivities so that the 'show can go on'.
I do have one small word of advise for the organisers - there should be a rule somewhere that floats must get into the festive spirit. There were two or three with the bare minimum of tinsel, and one - yes, I'm naming you, Parakai Wholesale Liqour - that made absolutely no effort at all, not so much as a sprig of holly or strip of tinsel, just a huge advertising billboard. Even the little kids on the back were without so much as a Santa hat.
The Helensville Christmas parade is a family, community festivity - NOT a vehicle for blatant advertising. I heard several people in the crowd around me muttering about that particular float, so the chances are their "advertising" has backfired anyway.
You can check out some of my photos from the parade here.
This annual event is a real tribute to all those involved in organising it and running it on the day - the Business Association, all the groups and organisations who create the floats and displays, and of course the public who turn up year in and year out to watch it.
This year we were blessed with beautiful weather again; I can't remember a wet parade actually, though I guess over the years there must have been one or two!
I think it's the variety that makes the parade so great. It's not just traditional floats but kids on horses, clowns, classic vehicles - even dogs! And of course recognising faces on the floats makes it all the more fun and really gives it that community feel. Once again Oikoumene Forest had, in my opinion, the stand-out float - Don, you really look like a good old-fashioned ooh-arrr pirate!
The number of schools taking part was fabulous. In fact there were so many small children taking part, from schools, the Pony Club, River Valley Kindy, Sunny Days Preschool etc that it's amazing there were enough left to be spectators! I think it's these kids who deserve the REAL thanks - they pretty much give up the chance to watch the whole parade and enjoy the rest of the festivities so that the 'show can go on'.
I do have one small word of advise for the organisers - there should be a rule somewhere that floats must get into the festive spirit. There were two or three with the bare minimum of tinsel, and one - yes, I'm naming you, Parakai Wholesale Liqour - that made absolutely no effort at all, not so much as a sprig of holly or strip of tinsel, just a huge advertising billboard. Even the little kids on the back were without so much as a Santa hat.
The Helensville Christmas parade is a family, community festivity - NOT a vehicle for blatant advertising. I heard several people in the crowd around me muttering about that particular float, so the chances are their "advertising" has backfired anyway.
You can check out some of my photos from the parade here.
