Newspaper Article 1994 – Blossom parade support exceeds expectations

Blossom parade support exceeds expectations

Support for the rekindled blossom parade that will mark the end of the Springfest has already exceeded organisers’ expectations, the Mayor of Hastings, Jeremy Dwyer, said today.

“I couldn’t think of a better time to begin to rebuild one of the finest traditions of Hastings,” Mr Dwyer said.

“The community has had a lot of adversity to cope with, with the Springfest and parade is one way of saying we’re far from down and out,” he said.

There are more than 50 confirmed participants in the parade including more than 20 floats by several Hastings firms.

Organiser Keith Thorsen said the Hastings District Arts Council had considered the parade to be just the beginning of bigger and better parades for years to come.

“We would have been happy with 10 floats. But the response has been tremendous. There’ll be 30 floats by the time we have finished,” Mr Thorsen said.

Mr Dwyer said he found the original cup awarded to the best float in the old blossom parade in one of the council’s underground storage vaults.

It was dusted down and put on display at the Hastings Community Arts Centre in Russell St today, along with the old blossom- making machine that stamp cuts the crepe paper.

The cup will be awarded again this year after a more than 20-year break in tradition.

The parade on Saturday, October 29, assembles at the Hastings Racecourse ready to parade down Market St at noon. It will turn right into Queen St, right into Karamu Rd, right again into Eastbourne St, and left into Russell St where floats will park around Civic Square for viewing.

The leading floats are expected to arrive at the square at 12.30. A concert is planned by country and western singer John Fletcher that is hoped to create a carnival atmosphere among food and craft stalls, Mr Thorsen said.

Mr Dwyer said it was not too late for people to become involved in the Springfest parade.

The Springfest banners went up around inner city lampposts today in preparation for the two week festival, which starts next week. The opera presentation of The Marriage of Figaro starts on Friday week and the official festival opening is at the Hastings Racecourse the next day. Shortland Street actors Rachel McKenna and Chris Warner will join the race-day fun events.

Photo caption – Residents of the J. H. Mason Retirement Village, Havelock North, pictured from left, Myrtle Martin, Helen Goodwin, Bill Kemp, Eileen Davidson, Lila Grant, Rose Kemp, Jean Croucher and Bernice Atkinson have been making blossoms for floats.