The Trustpower Christmas Parade returns to downtown Tauranga on December 1, with incredible new floats, big bands, entertainment, and everyone's favourite cartoon and movie characters as well as Santa himself!

This is the fifth year the parade will be held in Tauranga. 'This year, participants are really raising the bar and we can't wait to bring joy to the thousands of spectators,” says Millie Newitt.

'Richard Parker, from Black Chilli Design, is helping us create a new pirate float, complete with canon, treasure chest and skeletons, but I don't want to give too much away.

'This will be added to Santa's float, Disney princesses, Frozen, the Mad Hatter and Batman. Cosplay BOP will have plenty of your favourite characters and an exciting new addition that will be a fire breathing show stopper.”

An event like this involves strong community collaboration and partnerships, and Millie says that this is what makes bringing the Christmas Parade to life so much fun.

'Working with passionate, creative sponsors and people, seeing the parade gather momentum and then sharing the joy with people who come to celebrate what so many have worked hard to create, is really something special,” says Millie.

'We would love for more to be involved, so we are inviting businesses, groups, pre-schools, schools and organisations to create a float and come and join us.

'If you're stuck for ideas, we have blogs on our website to help and we are just a phone call away. It's a fantastic feeling being a part of a parade.”

For more information and inspiration, visit: www.taurangachristmasparade.co.nz