Canterbury Showgrounds to become permanent home of Christchurch Christmas Show Parade

The Canterbury Showgrounds will host this year’s Christchurch Christmas Show Parade as it makes its big comeback on Sunday 18th December following a three year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic.

This is the first of what Parade Director Jason Reekers hopes will be many more years to come at the Showgrounds - the parade’s new permanent home.

The parade will take on a fresh new approach to the old Santa parade, with all the historic and beautiful floats being brought to life with singers, actors and dancers as they make their way round the roading system at the Canterbury Showgrounds. The floats will be laced together with bands, marching teams, community and cultural groups.

Reekers advised that the day will offer a fun family event with entertainment, a Christmas market, food vendors, bouncy castles, amusements and two large picnic areas that families can enjoy.

Reekers notes “we will have parking on site as well as public transport options. The Canterbury Showgrounds is a perfect venue for the parade. The roading system is safe and it means we don’t have to close any of the city’s roads and inconvenience any businesses or emergency traffic routes.”

The Christchurch Children’s Christmas Parade Trust is a not-for-profit volunteer charitable trust that is still looking for Christchurch businesses to get behind and support this new free family event by sponsorship.

The trust has been given a $45,000 grant from Christchurch City Council. It has also secured grants from some charitable foundations, but it still needs to raise more funds.

“The event is partially self-funded with money raised from parade naming rights and float sponsorship. This is a huge task and we really need local businesses to come out and support us so the Trust can put on a great event for the community,’’ added Reekers.

“We are seeking a naming rights sponsor, as well as individual sponsors for our 22 spectacular floats.

"In return for their sponsorship, sponsors will get a bit more this time than the traditional ’sign on a float’."

This is just one of the variety of events that will make up the Christchurch City Council’s calendar of Christmas activities happening around the city.

To keep up to date with all parade information you can follow The Christchurch Christmas Show Parade Facebook page.
If you would like to support the Christchurch Christmas Show Parade, go to their Givealittle.