This weekend heralds the beginning of Santa riding sleighs through towns in the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga, greeting crowds before his big day of mahi on December 25.

Yes, Santa hits two towns – Te Puke and Katikati – this Saturday, December 2.

Seeka Te Puke Christmas Float Parade begins 11am with floats looping the main street twice before finishing at 12 noon.

The road is closed to traffic on Jellicoe St between corner of Cameron Rd and the Oxford St roundabout in both directions from 9am-1pm.

Following the parade, everyone is invited to the Christmas in Te Puke market from 12noon-3pm at Jubilee Park.

Santa resurfaces the same afternoon in Katikati Lion’s Santa Parade, which begins 3pm and heads from Katikati College down Carisbrooke St and Middlebrooke Drive.

The roads are closed to traffic from 3pm-4pm.

Then everyone is invited to Katch Katikati’s Christmas in the Park at Moore Park.

Meanwhile, the Anzac Bay/Waipapopao Summer Kick off Festival is on December 2 too – from 2pm-6pm at Anzac Bay near Waihī Beach.

Crowds at Pak‘n’Save Pāpāmoa Christmas Parade in 2019. Photo: Brydie Thompson.

The jolly man in a red suit may pop up here too...

In Tauranga CBD this year’s Christmas Carols on the Waterfront will be held at Edgewater Fan, from 5.30pm this Sunday, December 3.

The following weekend is full of festive occasions too!

Ōmokoroa Christmas Carols in the Park is on Saturday, December 9, from 5pm-8pm at Ōmokoroa Sport’s Pavilion.

All are welcome.

Tauranga’s Christmas in the Park 2023 is on Saturday, December 9, from 10am-4pm at Soper reserve, Mount Maunganui.

The event is filled with live music, performances, arts, craft and artisan food/drink in exchange for gold coin entry, or a non-perishable food donation for charity.

And the Pak‘n’Save Pāpāmoa ‘Fairy tale’ Christmas Parade is on Sunday, December 10, starting 10.30am at the corner of Dickson and Longfellow roads, ending at Pāpāmoa Plaza.

Tauranga’s Christmas concert ‘A Night Before Christmas’ is on Saturday, December 16 at Bethlehem College fields. Gates open 4pm, and the show starts 5.30pm.

Get free tickets at: www.anbc.co.nz

And the Road to Bethlehem returns for 2023 from December 17-23.

The free outdoor theatrical presentation that brings to life the true story and meaning of Christmas is at 19 Moffat Rd, Bethlehem.

More information at: https://roadtobethlehem.org.nz

Crowds at Pak‘n’Save Pāpāmoa Christmas Parade in 2019. Photo: Brydie Thompson.