Mr and Mrs Claus were a big hit with the crowd, accompanied by New World Colouring Competition winners (6-9 age group), Hunter Booker and Maeve Cartholomeusz.
A record 60 floats and around 75 vehicles carrying some 980 people made for a sizzling New World Cambridge Christmas Parade in Sunday’s brilliant sunshine.
A record 60 floats and around 75 vehicles carrying some 980 people made for a sizzling New World Cambridge Christmas Parade in Sunday’s brilliant sunshine.
The theme this year – A Sporty Christmas – was taken up in fine style by everyone. Hautapu School ended up taking the top slot as both the Cambridge New World 2025 Overall winner, and the Cambridge Lions Schools winner, with their fun-filled float.
CAPTION (pipers)
Members of the Cambridge and Districts Pipe Band generated cheers as they passed by.
The theme this year – A Sporty Christmas – was taken up in fine style by everyone. Hautapu School ended up taking the top slot as both the Cambridge New World 2025 Overall winner, and the Cambridge Lions Schools winner, with their fun-filled float.
Hautapu School deputy principal Aaron Kavenagh said on Monday the school was thrilled to have done so well. The parade theme dovetailed well with the school’s motto ‘Explore Your Limits’ and supported one of the school’s main focuses, which is involvement in the community.
The float was co-ordinated largely by Anna Tollestrup, who is on the school’s PTA-linked Hautapu Helping Hands, with input from other staff and members of the school community.
“We’re thrilled to have done so well … our winnings will go back into doing something special with the students,” he said.
Cambridge Lions president Brent Montgomerie thanked the crowds after the parade. With him are Camille Guzzwell from The Breeze, and parade manager Vicki Ewing.
Mayor Mike Pettit and his deputy Jo Davies-Colley, wave to the crowds.
Cambridge Lions Club members, who were running the parade for the first time, also entered a float.
The 2025 parade was the first being run by Cambridge Lions, who have stepped into shoes vacated by Cambridge i-Site. Vicki Ewing was into her 10th year as parade manager, with Cambridge New World remaining the event’s main sponsor.
An exhausted but elated Vicki said: “Such a massive parade was a baptism of fire for Cambridge Lions… but we all came through it. It was a lovely example of Cambridge’s community spirit, with so many either involved or spectating.”
Cambridge Lions Club president Brent Montgomerie said running the event wouldn’t have been possible without Vicki.
Cambridge Kindergarten won the Kaz Design Pre-Schools award for their inventive nod to the sports theme.
Hautapu School’s colourful ‘Santa’s Olympics 2025’ float was the parade’s Cambridge New World 2025 Overall winner, and the Cambridge Lions Schools winner.
The Christmas Grinch tried his best to put his mean face on.
“She has co-ordinated this event for 10 years … we couldn’t have done it without her,” he said. “The Christmas Parade brings this town alive for an afternoon. It is such a good fit with Lions, with our club’s community focus. We would like to continue supporting it in the future.”
He also acknowledged support from Cambridge Rotary Club, Camille Guzzwell from The Breeze, New World staff, Lions members, volunteers and Leos.
Other winners on the day were Cambridge Riding for the Disabled (the Jumble Around Community Groups winner), Cambridge Kindergarten (Kaz Design Pre-Schools winner), and Cambridge Hunting and Fishing (Waipa Networks Business winner).
Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade deputy fire chief Glenn Philip looked relaxed in one of several station vehicles on parade.
Brilliantly-clad members of the Falundafa Association went through their paces with music and dance.
Cambridge Police senior police constable Deb Hann spotted just before the parade began.
Brightly dressed clowns like this one wove their way up and down the route.
Mr and Mrs Claus were a big hit with the crowd, accompanied by New World Colouring Competition winners (6-9 age group), Hunter Booker and Maeve Cartholomeusz.
