The festive season is fast approaching, and this year Wairoa will celebrate Christmas with a party!

On Saturday, December 12, Marine Parade will be a hub of Christmas activity with retail specials and market stalls up and down the street!

Bouncy castles, music, spot prizes, face painting and a super charged shop and win competition are all planned and Father Christmas himself is expected to make a visit.

As is the Christmas tradition, UpStream Wairoa has partnered with the Wairoa District Council to add a little festive spirit to December and host the district’s Christmas Party.

UpStream facilitator Alex Powdrell is looking forward to the day and is especially happy about giving everybody a chance to do some local Christmas shopping.

“It has been such a trying year for many people in so many ways and it was inspirational to see how our community came together and supported each other during the COVID-19 lockdown and afterwards with the shop and win local promotion.

“We are really keen to carry on that mantra, celebrate Wairoa and support our local businesses.

“We are encouraging all retailers, whether they are located on Marine Parade or not, to join the party and ether bring a stall on to Marine Parade or offer some super specials on that day.”

Marine Parade will also be opened up to other stall holders with cottage industries, homemade Christmas goodies, flowers, festive food and fundraising groups encouraged to join the party. There is no charge to have a space but stallholders do need to register their stall so they can be allocated a space.

Hundreds of dollars in prizes will also be up for grabs. There will be 10 x $100 shop and win vouchers and a grand prize of $500 worth of vouchers to be won. Any purchase over $5 from any retailer in Wairoa on Saturday, December 12 is eligible! Receipts, with the entrant’s name and phone number, will need to be placed in the giant Christmas present box which will be located on the library green.

Lucky entries will be drawn in the afternoon and the winners notified.

The Christmas Party will take the place instead of the usual Christmas Parade.

“Putting a float together is a lot of fun but it is also a lot of work and we are not wanting to burden our community with this expectation this year. We know there is extra pressure and disruptions from the COVID-19 lockdowns, and a very busy catch up fourth term for schools, and we did not want to add to the workload - so throwing a party seemed like the ideal solution for this year.”

Any other service providers who want to join in and offer other activities during the party should contact Alex on 021 856 800 or alex@visionprojects.co.nz.

Stall holders should also contact Alex to register for a space.

Mark Saturday, December 12, on your calendar and get ready to party Wairoa style.

Keep an eye out in the Wairoa Star for more details on the Christmas Party and like our Facebook page Wairoa Christmas Festival for updates.

4 November 2020

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