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After a difficult year, Nelson families appreciated the opportunity to don Santa hats and cheer on the sidelines of Nelson’s Santa Parade.
Despite being organized last minute, Sunday afternoon’s event was twice the size of last year’s event, with 50 floats touring Trafalgar St.
Luz Zuniga / Things
An ovation went up from the crowd as Santa, escorted by his elves, made his appearance in downtown Nelson on Sunday afternoon.
Included in the lineup were musical favorites from the Sambassadors, classic tractors from the Pigeon Valley Steam Museum, zumba dancers, vintage cars from the Nelson Classic Car Museum, stormtroopers and a float from the Post Boy Hotel.
An early float was carrying a group of NMIT carpentry apprentices, hastily building Santa’s Grotto, which was destined for the Trailways Hotel to wait for Santa.
Luz Zuniga / Things
One of Nelson Santa Parade’s helpers injects color and keeps her wig on during Sunday’s event.
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The loudest cheer was reserved for Santa, who stayed behind in his flying reindeer float.
Friends Emmy Anderson and Rosie Davis from the Nelson Youth Theater Company donned rainbow wigs and clown makeup to hand out candy and balloons along the parade route.
Luz Zuniga / Things
Families lined Trafalgar St to watch the parade, which was twice the size of last year’s event.
They agreed that the event was a “10 out of 10.”
“It was really fun doing something you don’t normally do,” Rosie said.
Her favorite moments from the parade were the mermaid float, the music, and of course, Santa.
LUZ ZUNIGA / Things
Tasman Mako players displayed their 2020 Miter Cup 10 Premiership trophy at the Santa Parade.
The event was hosted by Miter 10 Marketing Manager Murray Leaning, whose ongoing comment was delivered from a balcony overlooking the street.
Leaning stepped in to revive the parade in late October, not long after the Nelson City Council announced it was eliminating the annual event.
LUZ ZUNIGA / Things
Children wait patiently for Santa Claus, who climbed in line for the parade with flying reindeer.
The event cost less than $ 4,000, and many people put their hands in their pockets to help finance the floats, Leaning said.
He thanked the crowd for coming to support the parade. Having organized the event in just a few weeks, he promised that next year’s parade would be “bigger, brighter and louder than this year.”
