29 Nov 2017

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Santa Claus is coming to town on Sunday.

More than 100,000 people – a quarter of the region’s residents – are expected to line Riccarton Road to welcome the big guy in the red suit back to Christchurch for Christmas.

Santa’s sleigh will land in time for the annual parade, gliding into the top spot behind a lively line of fabulous floats featuring wonderful characters and a host of celebrities.

The parade will start at 2pm on Sunday from the corner of Wharenui Road, before travelling nearly two kilometres down Riccarton Road to finish at the corner of Mandeville Street at 3.15pm.

Music and marching girls will bring the trills and twirls to the colourful cavalcade of sight and sound.

Presented by the Christchurch Children’s Christmas Parade Trust, Santa’s star turn will feature a 2500-strong supporting cast powered by hundreds of volunteers.

Gather up the family and get there early to take up a roadside spot or put together a picnic for a prime park perch in Shand Crescent Reserve opposite Konini Street.

Parking will be available in the Kirkwood Intermediate grounds – off Kirkwood Avenue – for $5.

Riccarton Rd will be closed to traffic from west of the Wharenui Road intersection to Deans Avenue between 1pm and 5.30pm. Wharenui Road will be closed to all traffic (apart from parade or residents' vehicles) from 8am to 3.30pm. No stopping restrictions will also be enforced along the parade route and in nearby streets from 6am.

Check out the Transport for Christchurch website for more information.

From 1pm to 4pm, buses will detour off Riccarton Road to Blenheim Road, between Deans Avenue and Middleton Road. Further bus service information can be found at Metroinfo.

If the parade is postponed because of bad weather, it will be held the following Sunday. Announcements will be made after midday via The Breeze (94.5) and More FM (92.1) radio stations.