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.
# posted by Dave @ 3:46 PM 
Comments:
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didnt see the parade, i'm wanting to know what happened to the great graffiti paintout project..people and groups received funding for this 'project' yet not much got done, and it seems to have fallen by the wayside?..as for spending time and money painting out the old dairy factory, what was the point of that? its a privately owned property and the owners are letting it get rundown so they get permission to demolish it,they should be made responsible to tidy it up, and not the community..why is the youth centre not more involved on this tagging problem? a lot of tagging is due to the youths in this town and beyond tagging out their turfs.if they were made to be more involved in painting it out,they'd gain a bit of pride in their town,which is serverly lacking at the moment.
# posted by 
: 5:28 PM
: 5:28 PM
I lived in hlv 12 years and never had i seen graffeti, i am now 17 living in manakau and know all about paint. Now as every old timer should know honesty and respect is everything, respecting ones talent might just earn you some respect, what our village needs is free walls! I am a Graffeti artist myself and if i know one thing gas and a can doesnt stop someone being a free artist.
# posted by : 4:18 PM
: 4:18 PM
buddy bevan..maybe it would be alright if the writing or spelling of said graffiti was even readable?..
maybe if it said 'save the whales' or 'stop the nukes',something with a cause behind it, people may enjoy it..
but alas none of it makes any sense, and none of the mess spraypainted on the buildings at the dairy company, show any signs of talented artwork..its just a crime of destroying property.
the 'people' who do it have got nothing better to do,and they have not been taught to respect their surroundings and other peoples property by their parents.
were you taught to keep your room clean,mow the lawns,tidy up after yourself,look after the furniture?? seems not,otherwise you wouldn't be out with a 'can',trespassing,being a 'free artist' destroying property.this 'free artist' rubbish is feed by heidi at the youth centre,and its a load of bullocks.
why can't you buy some canvas to do your 'art' work on??
i have respect for talented artists,such as those who have created works already on display on some buildings in helensville,but taggers who ruin others property are nothing but criminals.
maybe if it said 'save the whales' or 'stop the nukes',something with a cause behind it, people may enjoy it..
but alas none of it makes any sense, and none of the mess spraypainted on the buildings at the dairy company, show any signs of talented artwork..its just a crime of destroying property.
the 'people' who do it have got nothing better to do,and they have not been taught to respect their surroundings and other peoples property by their parents.
were you taught to keep your room clean,mow the lawns,tidy up after yourself,look after the furniture?? seems not,otherwise you wouldn't be out with a 'can',trespassing,being a 'free artist' destroying property.this 'free artist' rubbish is feed by heidi at the youth centre,and its a load of bullocks.
why can't you buy some canvas to do your 'art' work on??
i have respect for talented artists,such as those who have created works already on display on some buildings in helensville,but taggers who ruin others property are nothing but criminals.
# posted by : 11:16 PM
: 11:16 PM
it was cool with all the people the food i bought the lollie scrabble you shounld have seen it wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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# posted by : 7:48 PM
: 7:48 PM << Home
