Pip and daughter Bo Burns and a talented volunteer group of locals are driving the 65th Howick Santa Parade this year.
“They are taking over the reins from the clever and dedicated Emma Smith from Times Newspapers,” said Bo.
“This year the parade is not coinciding with the Howick Club Christmas event, or the Auckland Santa Parade.” Bo is forecasting the biggest spectator numbers yet at the parade.
In 1953, the first Santa Parade saw Santa walking down from the top of Stockade Hill with one bucket full of Macintosh lollies, nothing really compared to the 200kg that will be given out this year to the excited community and kids.
Their aim this year is to bring the magic back to the community, feel the excitement in the air, and increase the community engagement and work with the retailers to make the day the most memorable yet.
The Burns family have been a part of the community and in retail in Howick for many years.
Their belief is as a business and as locals with families is to give back to “our wonderful community” as much as they can.
“We are excited to share already that there will be clowns, magicians, ride-on ponies, balloon makers, food demonstrations, Little Miss Howick, fashion shows, Point to Pub Run, Santa VIP Party, a sports give-it-a-go area, Sunday Santa Markets plus much, much more,” said Bo.
“We have more than 60 floats and the best characters involved in the Santa Parade to date.
”We are also very excited to announce that the Howick Santa Parade will be live-streamed and we have a dedicated group going around to all the rest homes, local hospitals and less able units/homes to organise that they can watch the parade from the comfort of their own homes.
The date of the Howick Santa Parade this year is December 9 and pre-prade entertainment runs from 11am – 2pm with the parade commencing at 2.30pm. The Santa VIP after-party is from 3.30pm–5pm. (limited tickets available for this).
“We are bringing back the Howick magic and going to engage with our community on an interactive and fun level, we will have wow factor on every face on the day!” said Bo.
If you would like any further information to have a float in the parade, to become a sponsor, help, suggest anything or to be a volunteer, Bo & Pip welcome your feedback and suggestions, you can contact them on howicksantaparade@gmail.com or Bo on 027 275 3910
- Santa Parade 2018, Sunday December 9 from 11am – 3.30pm
