The best family friendly Christmas events in Tauranga 2017

There are plenty of family-friendly Christmas events taking place across Tauranga this year. From Santa parades, Christmas carols and Christmas in the Park, this year’s events will help you get into the festive spirit. Here are our top picks for the best Christmas events in Tauranga.

Carols in the park

Carols in the Park, providing the community with a family friendly event to celebrate Christmas. Come and enjoy an evening of carols, singing and music in beautiful Sydenham Botanic Park. Bring a picnic or enjoy the variety of hot food and drinks available for sale. Tauranga Salvation Army Band, Ngai Tamarawaho Choir, Bellevue School Choir, Brookfield School Choir and Brookfield Kapa Haka Group will provide the entertainment for the evening.

When: Friday 1 December 2017, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Where: Sydenham Botanic Park, 6 Millers Road, Brookfield
Cost: Free
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Seeka Te Puke Float Parade and Multicultural Food Festival

The Seeka Te Puke Float Parade and Multicultural Food Festival will be extra special this year. This year’s event will be celebrating the life and achievements of local hero Denny Hulme, who 50 years ago won the Formula One championship, and it is also 25 years since his death. Some of Denny’s vehicles will feature in the parade and participants will decorate their floats to support this theme. The food festival will start at 10.30am, the parade from 11am in Jellicoe St, and the event will finish around 1.30pm.

When: Saturday 2 December 2017, 10.30am – 1.30pm
Where: Epic Te Puke, 130a Jellicoe Street, Te Puke
Cost: Free
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Trustpower Christmas Parade

The Trustpower Christmas Parade will feature colourful community floats, lively bands, marching teams, acrobatic groups and colourful characters. Santa will be there along with his friendly elves who have filled his presents sack early for the occasion, so watch out for them at the end of the parade. The parade will start at 11am with post parade entertainment on the waterfront until 4pm.

When: Saturday 2 December 2017, 11am – 4pm
Where: The Strand Waterfront, Tauranga CBD
Cost: Free
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Tauranga’s Christmas in the Park

Tauranga’s Christmas In The Park is an annual community focused, fundraising event. It’s a time to celebrate Christmas, enjoy a full day of entertainment, as well as providing an opportunity to give back to the community. The event will be filled with live music thanks to Ricther City Rebels, Randy Matthews Quarter, Modern Maori Quartet and Avalanche City AND other amazing performances on the main stage. The Little Big Markets will be there, providing amazing craft stalls for those last minute Christmas pressies. And The Street Food Union will have a delicious selection of food for you all to enjoy.

When: Saturday 9 December 2017, 1pm – 8pm
Where: Blake Park, Mt Maunganui
Cost: Gold coin donation
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Tauranga Fish & Dive Club Kids Christmas Party

Tauranga Fish & Dive Club is proud to present their annual Kids Christmas party. The day will start off with a morning dose of fishing starting at 10am! Bring your rods, reels, and lines and cast off! From 12pm, there will be lunch, spot prizes, lolly scrambles, entertainment and much more! A special visit from Santa will also be included. Davey from OakLight Studios will be there doing free Santa Photos too! It is free to attend but registration is essential.

When: Sunday 10 December 2017, 10am – 4pm
Where: Tauranga Fish & Dive Club, 60 Cross Road, Sulphur Point, Tauranga
Cost: Free, registration is essential
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Christmas Carols on the Waterfront

The annual Carols on the Waterfront event returns this year to the city centre. Everyone is welcome at this free family friendly event to celebrate the festive season, singing everyone’s favourite Christmas Carols! Dress up as shepherds or angels and follow Mary and Joseph on a donkey from No.1 The Strand to The Edgewater Fan, where the Chorus will be set up.

When: Sunday 10 December 2017, 5.30pm – 8pm
Where: The Strand Waterfront, Tauranga CBD
Cost: Free
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A Night Before Christmas 2017

The Bay’s biggest FREE Christmas party “A Night Before Christmas” returns in 2017 to celebrate 21 years of Christmas joy in our very own Bethlehem. Over 10,000 people will come together to enjoy a festive variety of live music, dance, carols and a massive fireworks display as this year’s event looks set to be another stunner – and as always, totally FREE! Bring a picnic dinner, grab a bite from the amazing food trucks, take a photo at the photo booth, or maybe a selfie with one of the roving Christmas characters and enjoy the picturesque grounds of the Bethlehem College Sports Fields.