The streets of Tauranga will turn Christmassy this weekend as Batman, Elsa from Frozen, Alice and the Mad Hatter join the jolly man in red for the Tauranga Christmas Parade.

With the Trustpower Christmas Parade this Saturday, Santa's Kiwi Bach in Red Square, Christmas Stars and oversized Christmas presents appearing on the streets the spirit of Christmas is about in Downtown Tauranga.

The Christmas Parade will start at 11am and make its way down Devonport Road and along The Strand.

Mainstreet Tauranga Christmas Parade organiser Fiona Corkery says there's even more fun and entertainment for the kids this year.

'In fact there's something for the whole family. We have Batman on what we believe is the world's first fully constructed Bat Mobile jet ski, with a chase scene for the kids to boot.

'There's lollies and spot prizes for the kids and with entertainment on the waterfront after the Parade from the Little Entertainment Company we're expecting a huge day for the city centre.”

Last year an estimated crowd of more the 15,000 lined the streets and this year Mainstreet Tauranga is hoping for more.

'Every year we introduce new floats and work hard with the community to encourage a good mix of business and community floats and displays to delight the crowds,” says Fiona.

'It takes a lot of work and we have limited resources but we are determined to build on the parade every year to create one befitting the city centre and our growing city.

'We also look forward to the crowds staying afterwards and enjoying some Christmas shopping and lunch in the city.”

Adding to the festivities in the city centre is the newly erected Kiwi Bach in Red Square a small place-making initiative that celebrates Kiwi Bach heritage and creates a great spot for Santa to hang out.

'We wanted to create a place for Santa to spend some time in the lead up to Christmas.

'What started out as an idea to have a Santa's Grotto became The Kiwi Bach…a chance for us to celebrate some of our Kiwi heritage.

'We wanted to put a smile on the face of locals who will relate to the bach heritage and., at the same time, create a little tourist attraction for the cruise ship visitors and others.”

The project is a community collaboration with Tauranga Rotary, Guthrie Bowron Tauranga, Black Chilli, Media Works and Mainstreet Tauranga.

From December 10, Santa will take up residence at the bach.

'Every day from 11.30 – 12noon he'll start the day reading stories to the kids in the Goddards Centre and then from 12noon till 2pm he'll be in Red Square, at The Bach, for lunch. So the kids can come along and have a chat with Santa.

'Add to that the Christmas Tree on the waterfront and the Stars and Christmas boxes that are appearing on the streets of the city centre as part of the Tauranga City Council decorations and it feels good to see the spirit of Christmas in the city centre.

'We have a few more surprises up our sleeves to. We want to create some Christmas magic in the city centre for shoppers, business owners and those who work and visit the city.”