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Christmas Carnival & Santa Parade

Sunday 14 December

The Event

Set in the heart of Gore, the Santa Parade and Christmas Carnival is the ultimate way to celebrate the festive season with friends, whānau, and community spirit.

On Sunday 14 December at 12 noon, the streets of Gore will burst into life with the annual Santa Parade, a fun, free celebration for all ages. From colourful floats to community groups, schools, clubs, and businesses, it’s a showcase of the creativity and energy that makes our district so special.

When the parade finishes, the celebrations continue at the Christmas Carnival, with food stalls, family activities, and festive entertainment to keep the magic going all afternoon.

Entry

There’s no cost to enter the Santa parade, and groups are warmly encouraged to join in.
Entry to the Christmas Carnival is free and there is something for everyone.

Entertainment

At the Christmas Carnival, the stage with live entertainment will be the heart of the festivities, featuring The Sunbeam Swingers, Kayla Mahon and the Halton Hart Family Band, and a magician spreading festive cheer for all.

1:00pm The Sunbeam Swingers
1:40pm Jimmy Marvel - Magic Show
2:05pm Kayla Mahon & Halton Hart
2:45pm The Sunbeam Swingers
3:05pm Jimmy Marvel - Magic Show
3:35pm The Sunbeam Swingers
4:30pm Event End

Live stage entertainment

Magician

The Christmas Carnival is full of festive fun for all ages!

Watch Elfie the Circus Elf’s Crazy Christmas Show for laughs and excitement, or take home a personalised keepsake from the caricaturist. Kids can enjoy facepainting with Flourish Facepainting and The Big Yellow Paint Box, or visit Santa’s Grotto for a special photo with Santa from 1:30 to 3:00pm. Be amazed by giant bubbles from Tinka and keep an eye out for a roving magician adding magical surprises throughout the carnival.

It's a festive day packed with fun and holiday cheer for everyone!

Face Painting

Santa's Grotto

Giant Bubbles by Tinka

Carnival Rides & Activities

Get ready for an action-packed day at the Christmas Carnival, where the fun never stops!
Bounce, leap, and laugh on the bouncy castles and bumper balls, race your friends in the Rat Race, or take the wheel in the mini-jeeps. Test your balance on the astro ball and water cylinders, spin high on the Chair-O-Plane, or soar to new heights on the bungy trampoline.
When you need a break, grab some headphones and join the silent disco for a festive dance party you won’t forget.

With so many rides and activities, there’s endless excitement and Christmas cheer for everyone!

Chair-o-plane

Rat race

Mini-jeeps

Food

There’s heaps of delicious food to enjoy at the Christmas Carnival! Treat yourself to sweet favourites like candy floss, ice cream, donuts, and homemade baking, or explore a variety of international flavours with Thai, Filipino, and South African dishes. Snack on pretzels, hot dogs, potato sticks, or go big with loaded fries, bao, and burgers. There is something tasty for everyone!

Traditional Candy Floss

Flipside Donuts

Southland Biltong

Sponsors

We sincerely thank our sponsors for their generous support.

For the Santa Parade, our gratitude goes to Amigos, The Warehouse Gore, McDonough Contracting, Insurance Brokers Alliance Ltd Gore, and Level Electrical & Air Conditioning Gore for sponsoring fantastic prizes for the parade floats. We also thank Fonterra for supporting the parade mascots, Regional Ford Gore for providing a truck to pull Santa’s float, and Dulux for their paint donation.

For the Christmas Carnival, a special thank you to Mercury—without their support, we couldn’t offer so many fun, free activities to our community. We also appreciate the contributions of Harcourts Gore, Regional Ford, and Giant Bubbles by Tinka for their valued support.

Finally, we acknowledge the generous backing of Community Trust South and Creative Communities.

The support of these local businesses and organisations is essential in making the Santa Parade and Christmas Carnival possible.

FAQ

Is there an entry fee for the Santa Parade or Christmas Carnival?
No, both the Santa Parade and Christmas Carnival are completely free for everyone to enjoy.
Is the event wheelchair and stroller friendly?
Yes, the main areas are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, although a bit weather dependent with wet grass. Some rides or activities may have age or height restrictions.

Can I bring my dog?
No, this event is not dog friendly.

Is there a lost children area?
Yes, there will be an Events HQ marquee where staff can assist in reuniting families.

Is there a place to breastfeed or change my child?

Yes, a designated Under-5 area will be available where you can safely breastfeed and change your little ones.

Are the activities suitable for all ages?
Absolutely! There’s something for everyone, from rides and games for kids to festive entertainment, silent disco and food for the whole family.
Will there be toilets?
Yes, there will be portable toilets at the Main Reserve, there are flashing toilets in the Aviary building at the Gore Gardens.

Cash or Eftpos?
Many vendors accept cards, but please bring some cash just in case. There are plenty of ATMs around town.

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