Organizers of the Orewa Santa Parade were pleased with the substantial turnout of an estimated 5-6,000 attendees during the festive event held on Saturday.

The parade featured 49 floats, a return to pre-2020 (Covid) levels, showcasing local businesses adorned in Christmas decorations, along with vintage cars, classic and hot rod cars, cheerleaders, and five bands.

The vibrant atmosphere throughout the 35-minute parade route and the evident joy on the children's faces underscored the positive impact of the event.

The parade procession took a total of 1 hour and 7 minutes to pass from start to finish.

Post-parade, Orewa town centre experienced a surge in activity as attendees flocked to cafes and restaurants, contributing to the event's dual purpose of spreading joy within the community and fostering a positive economic impact on the town.

The Rotary Club Orewa-Millwater hosted a successful post-parade carnival, featuring bustling amusement rides, popular food trucks that remained in demand until after 7 pm, and a schedule of engaging music performances.

Organizers highlighted that this year's event format would serve as a foundation for future years, aiming to make it even more significant and enjoyable.

In a notable change, the Surf Sounds Concert & Fireworks event, traditionally held after the Santa Parade, will now take place in March (Easter Saturday).

The decision was prompted by the exponential growth of both the Santa Parade and Surf Sounds event, necessitating their separation to create two distinct and fantastic event days for the community and beyond.

The float competition saw impressive displays, with awards going to:

• Best Team float: Whangaparaoa and Orewa Libraries
• Best Child Aligned Float: Busy Bees Silverdale
• Best Non-Commercial Float: Orewa Baptist
• Best Commercial Float: Drift Coffee
• More Creative Float: Forrest and Bird

Financial support from New World Orewa and the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, along with fully sponsored traffic management by Fulton Hogan, played crucial roles in making this event a reality.

Despite the event's success, challenges loom regarding increasing road closure requirements and associated costs from Auckland Transport.

Organisers express optimism and resilience, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts with Auckland Transport to ensure the continued success of community events in the region.