Farmers Santa Parade
Spectators can line the streets to watch a vibrant procession of colourful floats, costumed characters, dancers, and marching musicians culminate with Santa Claus. Highlights include character floats such as Paddington Bear and the Grinch atop Mt. Crumpit. Following the procession, visitors can head to Santa's Party to enjoy stage shows, amusement rides, and food stalls.
Sun, Nov 29, 2026 All ages Free.
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Plan Your Visit
Hours
Pre-Parade Entertainment: 12pm; Parade: 1pm.
Neighborhood
Auckland CBD
Food & Drink
Food stalls are available at Santa’s Party.
Parking
Inner-city roads are closed for most of parade day, so come in by bus, train or ferry.
Location
Tips & Advice
- Arrive early and claim a spot on Mayoral Drive or Customs Street East, where there's usually room for a picnic blanket.
- Inner-city roads close well before the parade starts, so get into the city early in the morning or come by bus, train or ferry.
- Kids under 13 travel free on public transport, but children over five need a registered HOP card, so sort that out before parade day.
- Flags on tall poles and balloons aren't allowed on the train, so leave them at home if you're travelling by rail.
- Stay behind the painted honour line along the route, as Police ask, and bring something to give to the Duffy Books in Homes collection.
Special Events & Promotions
- New this year: a brand-new Grinch float with the Grinch on top of a larger-than-life Mt. Crumpit.
- Paddington Bear rides his own float, then appears in a special Paddington Bear stage show at Santa's Party in Aotea Square.
- Before the parade there's a collection for charity partner Duffy Books in Homes.
Links & Contact
Run by Auckland Children's Christmas Parade Trust
Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide, not the organizer of this event. For tickets, entries, vendor spots or questions, contact the organizer directly through their contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the parade for?
It's a free family event for all ages. Expect colourful floats, favourite characters, musicians, dancers and Santa Claus himself.
What's new at the parade this year?
A brand-new Grinch float joins the line-up, with the Grinch standing on top of a giant Mt. Crumpit. Paddington Bear also rides through the streets on his own float.
Where are the best spots to watch from?
Try Mayoral Drive between Cook Street and Queen Street, or Customs Street East. There's usually room to lay down a picnic blanket, and you can walk to Santa's Party or the transport hub afterwards.
How long does the parade take to go past?
The route is 1.6km long, and the parade takes about an hour to pass any one point. Pre-parade entertainment with Christmas choirs, bands and interactive characters comes first.
What happens if the weather is bad?
A postponement decision is announced on the morning of the parade on the parade website and Facebook page. If it's postponed, the parade moves to Sunday 6 December.
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Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.