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Christmas in the Park was held in Invercargill’s Queens Park on Sunday afternoon. Pictured the Saints All Male Choir performing for the crowd.
Southland’s Christmas in the Park returned to Invercargill on Sunday as thousands gathered for a bit of family-friendly festive fun in the sun.
Returning for the first time since 2019 due to Covid-19, event organiser Blair Savory said it was good to see people and families out and about enjoying themselves for the day.
“The atmosphere’s really jovial, people seem to be getting into the Christmas spirit, there are heaps of people around with Christmas jumpers on a real family vibe,” he said.
Savory said he was expecting high numbers at this year’s event if the weather played ball.
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Robyn Edie/Stuff
Enjoying the spirit of Christmas in the Park are Yvonne Gawn, left, and Jenny Fraser, both of Invercargill.
“We’re probably thinking we’ll get two or three thousand, there’s probably around 1500 here at the moment, we might get better numbers because the weather’s been better, it wasn’t very good the last couple of times, and we’re pretty happy with the way things are tracking.
“The weather’s holding up and is starting to lift, and we’re looking like getting blue skies for the rest of the day,” he said.
Savory said there was something for all age groups – from bouncy castles to live music, and plenty of festive food on offer.
“There are lots of kids entertainment thanks to XO Church … we’ve got a bouncy castle and a heap of food trucks and a big Christmas vibe,” he said.
Robyn Edie/Stuff
Sophie Beer, 6, of Drummond, left, plays Twister with her auntie Sharyn Richardson, of Wellington ,during Christmas in the Park.
There was an eclectic line up of live entertainment to satisfy every taste of music from Drum n Bass, to brass bands and a church choir.
This included local acts Suzanne Prentice, Rhythmonyx, Jackie Bristow, Lachie Hayes, Bluff Drama Club, Darcy Kerr, Ascot Park Hotel Brass Band and The Ensemble and Friends and the Saints All Male Choir
Robyn Edie/Stuff
Sahalia Apela, right, playing a giant game of Guess Who with her mum Sarnya, both of Invercargill.
“All the bands are local, they’re all from Southland,” Savory said.
“We’ve been organising this for the last six months, and now it’s finally come into place, and it’s great it’s finally come to fruition.”
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