In a spirited example of what the festive season is all about, Greytown has extended an invitation to participate in
its Santa Parade to Carterton, which had to cancel its Christmas Parade at the last minute on Sunday due to rain and gusting winds.
Greytown Santa Parade organiser Wayne Terry said he knows how hard it is to arrange these events.
“The only thing we can’t organise is the weather,” Terry said.
“It’s just a shame with the months of planning and all the effort put into it.”
An email sent to the organisers behind Carterton’s parade encouraged residents from both towns to “come together and spread the joy”.
“Any participants from the Carterton Christmas Parade who still wish to embrace the festive spirit are more than welcome to join the Greytown Santa Parade,” the email said.
“Let’s ensure that the celebration continues and our communities stand together in unity and support during these times.”
Terry said he has already had confirmation from some people that they would love to have their floats join Greytown’s event.
“I’ve made room to accommodate them in the parade. It’s not a problem,” Terry said.
“I’m not here for politics or ‘our town is better than your town’.
“It’s Christmas, we’re the last parade in Wairarapa, so let’s have fun and hope the weather plays nice.”
Carterton Christmas Parade coordinator and rotary member Rod O’Leary said it is “a very welcome invitation from Greytown”.
“If you’ve got a really cool float, wouldn’t you want it in three or four Christmas Parades?”
O’Leary is grateful for the support and said that, even though it was a difficult decision, it was the right call to cancel the Carterton event.
“It was for the right reasons,” O’Leary said.
“Put kids out in that weather, or seniors? You don’t want to put people’s lives at risk.”
Anyone who wants to be part of the Greytown Santa Parade – the region’s last Christmas parade of the season – should get in touch with Terry by emailing [email protected].
That’s great news 😀