Kāpiti Christmas Parade and Festival
Join us for a fun and festive day of Christmas celebrations on Sunday 10 December, 11am–4pm.
Marvel at the Christmas floats and wave hello to Santa as they parade around Southward Car Museum’s driveway from 11am. Then join us behind the museum for a festival full of bouncy castles, food trucks, music and more. Santa will be there in his Grotto too!
Join the fun
We've heaps of fun and entertainment for you at the Kāpiti Christmas Parade and Festival - from entertainment by local performers, to the Kāpiti Coast's biggest collection of inflatable entertainment, which you can use free thanks to Kāpiti Coast District Council and our friends at Kāpiti Castles.
Make sure you drop by Santa's Grotto for a free photo with the jolly man himself, thanks to Zebunisso Alimova from Mike Pero!
Entertainment for all the whānau, from:
- Kāpiti Brass Band
- Kāpiti Choir
- Tui
- Gold Coast Rock n Roll Club
- Paraparaumu School Christmas Choir
- BigAir Cheerleading
- Judith Fuge Dance School
Food trucks on the day include:
- Cherry Wood
- Dutchys
- Fizzbang
- Full of Beans
- Hong Kong Foodie
- Lalies Latin food
- Zayaz Kebab Food Truck
- Super Hero Donuts
- The Ice Cream Truck
Help us keep it sustainable
- Take advantage of the free buses.
- Use the shared pathway and complementary bike racks onsite.
- Bring your reusable cups and drink bottles and use the available water stations.
- Keep your rubbish to a minimum.
Volunteers
We still need volunteers! An extravaganza like this takes a lot of support behind the scenes. If you’d like to help us on the day, please get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Sponsors
Thanks to our sponsors for helping us make this event possible:
- Voyle & Co (main sponsor)
- Mike Pero
- Kāpiti Castles
- Southwards
- Beach FM
- Coastlands Shopping Centre.
If you'd like to support this exciting event as a sponsor, contact [email protected]
Getting there and back
A free Christmas Bus will depart from Paraparaumu train station every 30 minutes to bring attendees to the event and back again – first bus to depart at 10.30am for the parade.
Buses
- Leave the car at home and catch the train and free Christmas buses.
- Free Christmas buses will be running to and from Paraparaumu and Waikanae railway stations 10am–4pm on the day.
- These buses will take you directly to Southward Car Museum for drop off.
Bus timetable
Paraparaumu Station to Southwards
- 10am
- 10.30am
Parade starts 11am
- 11am
- 11.30am
- 12 midday
- 1pm
- 2pm
- 2.30pm
- 3pm
- 3.30pm
- 4.00pm
Southwards to Paraparaumu Station
- 10.30am
Parade starts 11am
- 11am
- 11.30am
- 12 midday
- 1pm
- 2pm
- 2.30pm
- 3pm
- 3.30pm
- 4pm
- 4.30pm
Waikanae Station to Southwards
- 10am
- 10.30am
Parade starts 11am
- 11am
- 11.30am
- 12 midday
- 1pm
- 2pm
- 2.30pm
- 3pm
- 3.30pm
- 4pm
Southwards to Waikanae Station
- 10.30am
Parade starts 11am
- 11am
- 11.30am
- 12 midday
- 1pm
- 2pm
- 2.30pm
- 3pm
- 3.30pm
- 4pm
- 4.30pm
Cars
- Free parking available at Otaraua Park, 120 King Arthur Drive, Otaihanga, with complementary buses travelling between the carpark and Southward Car Museum throughout the day. Just look for the Christmas Bus Stop sign to jump on.
- There’ll be limited parking spaces available at Southward Car Museum for mobility parking, and float holders. There will be a drop-off space for whānau with baby buggies/prams, as these can’t be taken on the free buses.
Your parade entry must be safe for participants and spectators. Note:
- we are encouraging a sustainable event, so consider what materials you use and what giveaways you hand out (no balloons please!)
- secure all loose sets or props if you have a float – nothing can fall onto the spectators or participants
- no animals
- floats must be less than 4 metres in height
- no lolly scrambles; if you have lollies to give out, please have this done by walkers beside your float to keep eager children away from moving vehicles
- any vehicle must have a current WOF and be driven by an appropriately licenced driver
- any electrical equipment or special effects must be operated by a competent person and have appropriate fire safety equipment on board
- all parade entry participants need to be supervised – particularly if they are children
- your parade entry must be appropriate for small children to watch, and only age-appropriate messages will be allowed; we reserve the right to withdraw your parade entry on the day if it is not deemed appropriate
- no political or sensitive material
- Christmas theme only – no blatant advertising a product or cause
- there is only one Santa in the Parade, please do not have a Santa/Father Christmas as part of your parade entry
- the Southward Car Museum course will be marshalled, and you will need to follow marshalls' instructions before, during and after the parade
- the costs relating to your entry or damage incurred to your property or personal injury in the parade are your responsibility, not the parade organisers; you agree to do everything within reason to keep yourselves safe and comply with instructions from our organisers.
Remember – everyone is there to enjoy themselves in the spirit of Christmas.