There will be much to celebrate when Christmas is officially welcomed in Bluff this Sunday (11 December). The day will feature the annual Bluff Santa Parade followed by the Christmas In The Bluff Gala Day at the Bluff Oyster Festival site in Barrow Street.

The Santa Parade, organised by Bluff Promotions, leads off, starting at the top end of Gore Street (SH1) at the corner of Liffey Street at 1pm.

The parade will be led by the new Bluff Town Crier, Justine Bourke, and will feature floats, classic cars, marching groups, a steam engine and children from St Teresa’s School, Bluff School plus the Bluff Kindergarten and Te Rourou. Motupohue St John Youth, the Maori Wardens and Sanfords are also entered.

The Southern Society of SteamPunk Steamologists will be there as will Steve-O The Stag and Frazer Murdoch, aka the Badarse Rebel, who will debut a giant dragon he has been creating with flame and steel in his Bluff studio.

The Bluff Coastguard and Santa Claus will round out the parade as they make their way down Gore Street to Palmer Street before turning into Barrow Street and into the Oyster Festival site. The Gala Day festivities, organised by the Christmas In The Bluff Committee, will then get underway as Santa arrives ready to meet the children at the Santa Grotto for photos.

The Gala Day will have something for everyone with plenty of activities, games and food for the kids, shopping at the many craft stalls plus a chocolate wheel and the opportunity to vote for your favourite decorated wreath plus live music with Darcy Kerr.

A lot of the entertainment is free and some craft stalls will have eftpos but patrons are advised to bring cash should they wish to make a purchase or two.

Admission is free as is much of the entertainment making it a truly family friendly day.

Debbie Fife of Christmas In The Bluff says, “there has been a really good response to this year’s Gala Day. We are looking forward to everyone coming back and being able to give to the children while giving the parents a break where they can enjoy lots of activities without having to put their hands in their pockets.”

Organisers of both the parade and the gala day are grateful to Sanford’s Salmon Fund, Foveaux Hotel, Talley’s, Stewart’s Pharmacy, G.A.S.Bluff, Bottle-O Bluff, South Port NZ Ltd, Golden Age Tavern, Jump ‘n Fun Trampoline World, Splash Palace, Badarse Rebel Creations and Rugby Southland for their support of the activities.