Prideaux Park will come alive on Saturday, December 21 as people celebrate the festive season with the annual Kawerau Christmas in the Park.

The New World Kawerau Santa Parade departs from the Ron Hardie Recreation Centre at 11am to begin the festivities, followed by the Radio 1XX Community Christmas Concert starting at 1.30pm.

The crowd at last year's Christmas in the park event.

Kawerau South School kapa haka group are first up, followed by local duet Fee and Reuben.

A blend of local talent from different genres includes bands Yesiyah, NNC Dubhouse and Sidekix, and soloists Puawai Bennett, Chanelle Patuwai, Princess Elliott and Noel Christensen will perform.

Jess Walker, 2013 Kawerau Jamfest winner, will also be performing alongside her guitarist.

Kawerau's own Fusion and Whakatane's Be Ignited dance groups will aim to get the crowd moving, along with Zumba fun by Dezined-4-Impact.

The afternoon show is scheduled to finish at 6pm with a short interval before the evening variety show commences at 7pm.

Team leader for events and community activities at Kawerau District Council Lee Barton says 'Show director Monty Morrison (Creating Moments of Magic, CMM Ltd.) has once again pulled together a fantastic blend of artists for the evening show promising a superb evening of entertainment to the visiting crowd”.

MC Russell Harrison will lead proceedings, joined fresh off the Coca Cola Christmas in the Park stage by Michael Murphy (inaugural NZ Idol runner up).

Up and coming female vocalist, Emma Cronshaw-Hunt opens the evening, and star in the making, Olein Ona will show off her talent.

2013 Smokefree Pasifica Beats winners, Strangely Arousing will be there with their ska-funk-jazz fusion, and the climax of the evening will be the reggae sounds of 1814, back by popular demand.

The grand finale will be a firework display provided by none other than Van Tiel Pyrotechnics who provided the 2011 Rugby World Cup display.

Entry is free, there will be fun rides and food for all ages and the organisers would like to politely remind the visiting public that it is a family friendly atmosphere with no drugs, alcohol or gang regalia permitted.

For more go to www.kawerauchristmasinthepark.co.nz