You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry – Santa is in Southland and this week he’s going to be all over the main streets of Tuatapere and Riverton.

This Southland App reporter was too far away in some far-flung, unmentionable northern corner of New Zealand to see the red-jacketed master of time travel materialise in Invercargill for the first time this season on November 29.

But the joy of Christmas is that Santa has now been holidaying in Southland for several weeks, so everyone has been getting tons of chances to see the snowy-bearded international man of mystery. 

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Places he’s paraded this month include Gore, Te Anau and Otautau and he was a guest at the Invercargill Christmas in the Park event last Sunday.

This week’s schedule has him down for Tuatapere on Wednesday and Riverton on Thursday, with a few other guest appearances hither and tither.

Tuesday December 22

People can get into the Christmas spirit on Tuesday and Wednesday by voting for their favourite Christmas tree at the Waihopai City Lions Southland Christmas Tree Festival at the ILT Stadium in Invercargill (4pm – 8pm, December 22 and 23).

Santa has also been making public appearances this week at various stores, including Smiths City Invercargill.

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Wednesday December 23

The Tuatapere Santa Parade gathers at 6.30pm outside the Last Light Lodge on the corner of High Mile Rd and Clifden Highway. The parade will start at 7pm and ends at the RSA Memorial Hall.

Santa will then make a speedy trip back to Invercargill to tread the boards with cast and crew of the ILT Xmas Christmas Variety Show at Southland Stadium, starting at 6.30pm.

The cast will be celebrating 20 years of variety shows, with many past performers and dancers returning for a trip down memory lane.

The acts include the ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Club, the ILT Stadium Southland Dancers, La Muse dance crew and more.

Riverton's annual Christmas Parade on Christmas Eve has something for everyone. PHOTO: Raewyn Black

Thursday December 24

Santa’s last and but not least Southland engagement is on Christmas Eve, when he will be in action at the Riverton Lions Club Christmas Parade.

Riverton’s annual Christmas Parade leaves Palmerston Street at 7.30pm and will feature floats, tractors, trucks, classic cars and more. 

It usually stretches for 2km, with the first floats back at the start before the last floats depart.

Now in its 74th consecutive year, the event is one of New Zealand’s longest running parades and is attended by thousands of people.

Organiser Raewyn Black said there was no cap on entries, so she could not say how many people would turn up to tour the town.

“They don’t have to register, but we have had quite a lot of feedback . . . It is a big deal. There are a lot of people who come from Gore, Northern Southland, all over,” she said.

“It is Santa’s final appearance before he disappears away home to get all the toys and give them away.”

Santa has paraded through Riverton every year for 74 years. PHOTO: Raewyn Black

Mrs Black denied Santa had appointed a secret Southland ring-in to appear in his place.

“We have the real Santa,” she confirmed.

Hundreds of people came together to help with the event and many people returned every year, she said.

“A lot of people don’t realise how big the parade is. But once they come, they come back every year,” she said.

For more details on Christmas and summer holiday events in Southland, go to the Advocate South’s “Summer in the South 2020-2021” magazine, available in print or on the Southland App website HERE.