Santa will be visiting both Te Puke and Katikati today as both towns hold their Christmas parade.

The jolly white-bearded man will join other floats in bringing some festive cheer to both towns.

St Nick will be in Te Puke and Katikati today. Read the story to find out when.

Santa Claus' first stop is the Te Puke Christmas Float Parade, organised by Te Puke Lions Club.

From 11am, Santa and all his reindeer, including Rudolph, will parade from Jellicoe St to the Oxford St roundabout and back again.

The red-suited man will be joined by more than 30 floats, including community groups and emergency services.

Te Puke Lions Club member Peter Miller says the parade is getting bigger and bigger each year, with their Santa sleigh and reindeer 'the best in the Bay of Plenty”.

'Possibly the biggest supporters this year have been community groups including Barnardos, play centres and churches.

'One of our features is we encourage people to dress up and walk their pets in the parade. That's a little quirky thing that we do.”

Santa's next stop is Katikati's Christmas Parade from Earle Drive down Main St and back up to Moore Park, where Katch Katikati's Jacqui Knight says the fun continues with Santa in the Park and the Christmas Variety Concert.

'Santa will be doing the lolly scramble and there'll be The Lion's Club carnival rides, merry-go-rounds, bouncy castles and the quick-fire raffle.”

The Kaimai Express Bluegrass Band and musicians from Katikati College will provide entertainment.

The parade begins at 3pm, with Santa in the Park and the Christmas Concert starting 4pm.

'It's a really good community parade – a real feel good factor,” says Jacqui.

To see what else is happening in and around the region today, check out SunLive's What's On listings below:

Saturday 6 December

ABC Tauranga Market Day

Face painting, Pied Piper Icecream & heaps of bargains. 169a Maleme St, Tauranga 9am - 12pm.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Women's meeting at St Andrews, Dee St 10-11am. Children welcome.

Art in the Park

Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui 8.30am - 5pm, weather permitting. Tauranga Society of Artists offer for sale a variety of art to suit all tastes.

Baypark Family Speedway

Sprint Cars, Super Saloons, Saloons, Stock Cars, 6 Shooters, Mini Stocks. www.bayparkspeedway.co.nz

BOP Shirley Club

Christmas gift exchange meeting at Classic Flyers, Mt Maunganui 10am. Bring a gift to the value of $10 for exchange. Confirm attendance with 577 6607

Car Boot Sale

Greerton School 7am start. Cost $5 per single site or $10 for double site. Weather permitting. Something for everyone. Shirley 577 1116 or 0274 146 040

Christmas Dance

Dec 13 at Greerton Hall, 1247 Cameron Rd 7.30pm. BYO drinks & nibbles. Supreme Dance Centre 544 2337 or 027 322 1786

Christmas Dance Tonight

Wear a touch of Christmas to sequence & old time dancing. Door &spot prizes. Great music & supper. Greerton Hall 7.30-11pm. Entry $6. All welcome. Run by Tauranga Social Dance. Garry 543 0051

Christmas Parade

And Santa in the Park Katikati 3pm. Starts at Earl Drive & finishes at Moore Park.

Christmas Variety Concert

At Moore Park, Katikati 4pm. Great line up of performers. Follows on from the Lions Christmas Parade. www.katchkatikati.org.nz

Cinderella

At Baycourt 1pm & 7pm.

Garage Sale

At Katikati College school hall 8am start. Outdoor furniture to sports equipment. Bake sale & sausage sizzle.

Honey Bee Milonga (Tango Social Dance)

An evening of Argentine Tango. Held fortnightly at Honey Bee House, the Art of Dance & Movement Studio, 233 Waihi Rd, Judea 7.30-11pm. Gold coin donation & BYO drinks/nibbles. Logan 021 275 5636 or www.facebook.com/TangoinTauranga

Katikati Mural Tours

Every Sat & Sun departs 11am from the Katikati Info Centre, 36 Main Rd, Katikati. $10pp. For group bookings ph 549 5250

Messianic Weekly Meetings

The Way meet in the Kingfisher Room, Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way, Mt Maunganui 10am. 542 1438

Multicultural Language of Christmas

Dec 13 Multicultural Tauranga celebrates the year's end with songs, poems, dances & stories from children at the region's 8 language schools. Wesley Church Hall 6pm. Bring a plate of food to share. 571 6419

Permaculture Eco Building Workshop

Morning Q&A on eco-building & energy efficiency with expert Carsten Beetz, followed by an afternoon tour on 2 eco properties. Tauranga area 9am - 5pm. 027 240 1305 www.PlentyPermaculture.co.nz

Tai Chi Qingong

Every Sat in Memorial Park between mini golf & playground 10am. Free. All welcome.

Tauranga Farmers Market

Tauranga Primary School cnr 5th Ave & Cameron Rd every Sat 7.45am - 12pm. Fresh & artisian produced food. Christmas hamper tickets available at market $2 each. Drawn Dec 13 9am & 10am. You must be present to claim winning hamper. Trixie 552 5278 or www.taurangafarmersmarket.co.nz

Tauranga Fuchsia Group Show

One day competition & show at Tauranga Arts & Crafts Centre, Elizabeth St West, Tauranga 9am - 4pm. Entry $3. Plants for sale. Open to public. Pat 579 1655

Transform Life's Difficulties

An afternoon meditation course. Learn to develop methods which give us the ability to stay happy & positive, even in the most difficult circumstances. Dec 6 at Mount Senior Citz Hall, 345 Maunganui Rd 12.45-4m. Bookings es-sential. www.meditateintauranga.org or 09 846 5829

Tye Park Community Fun Day

Tye Park, Forrester Drive, Welcome Bay 10am – 2pm. Food stalls, arts & craft stalls, kids activities & rides, games, stage entertainment & performances & more. Supported by Welcome Bay Community Centre. 544 9774 or [email protected]

Welcome Bay Markets

First Sat of month at Welcome Bay Hall car park 9am - 12pm. Stalls $5. 544 9774/[email protected]