Hastings blossom parade to grow in Rugby World Cup year
Monday 18 July 2011, 8:00AM
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The Hastings Blossom parade is set to be a spring spectacle and again feature a large array of themed and decorated floats.
The parade is an iconic event on the Hastings entertainment calendar, after first being held as part of the week long blossom festival in the early 1950’s.
The 2011 festival director Angela Kilkolly says” we are making an extra effort to increase the number of entries in the parade in this special Rugby World Cup year. The city is likely to be bustling with visitors and the parade should be a real showcase of the vibrancy of the city.”
This year the parade will include a special welcome to the French and the Canadian rugby teams who will play their Rugby World Cup pool match the following day at McLean Park.
“Businesses, clubs and organisations are being encouraged to theme their creations in the colours of the two countries. Building a float can be a fun, team building exercise for any business or club and when it comes to ideas, ‘the worlds your oyster’ Ms Kilkolly says.’
The lead up to the Hastings Blossom Parade begins at 10.30am on Saturday 17 September with live entertainment, food stalls and a craft market. The parade through the streets of the Hastings CBD starts at 1.30pm with Hawke’s Bay marching teams and local bands completing the spring spectacle.
The parade marks the start of nine days of food, wine and festivities which includes the Takitimu Festival, the second day of the Spring Racing Carnival, the New Zealand Olive Festival and many other events.
To enter or make enquiries about creating a float for the blossom parade please call Angela Kilkolly (06) 8771616 or email mediasolutionshb@xtra.co.nz.