Santa will ride into Raymond Terrace on Sunday morning on a RAAF Bushmaster troop carrier surrounded by school children and beloved movie and television characters.
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The Irrawang High School Drum Corp will lead Santa’s parade at 10am followed by children from other schools, dance groups and a cast of characters including Chase and Marshall from PAW Patrol, Bumblebee, Deadpool, Astro Boy, the Nutcracker, Frosty the Snowman, a Christmas bunny, MarketPlace’s very own MarkeeP and Batman in his Batmobile.
“We didn’t think we could top bringing Santa in the Batmobile last year, but as he was so popular he will also be returning to be part of the parade along with Santa in his RAAF Bushmaster,” MarketPlace Raymond Terrace centre manager, Colleen Mulholland-Ruiz, said.
Santa’s arrival is part of a large community and family fun day held by MarketPlace each year.
In addition to Santa and his friends arriving in town, there will be a Show n Shine on the sportsground behind MarketPlace featuring stalls, entertainment and rides.
Money raised from the Show n Shine will go to supporting Newcastle Legacy.
Here’s what you need to know about Sunday.
The parade procession
The parade will remain within the vicinity of MarketPlace Raymond Terrace.
Starting at 10am on Sunday, November 11, the parade will leave the centre’s Woolworths dock on Port Stephens Street and wind down Bourke Street, continue into Bourke Lane and enter the centre carpark.
Some of the parade will work their way up the travelator into the centre to Santa’s chair outside Big W.
Other members of the parade will enter the centre and walk through it to the William Street entrance.
From William Street, the parade will turn right then right again down an alley towards the centre’s carpark.
The parade will finish up at the stage area set up on the sportsground.
Who is in the parade?
- Nutcracker
- Irrawang High School Drum Corp and CAPA students
- Christmas Rabbit
- Miss Kirsty’s School of Dance
- Irrawang Public School
- Frosty the Snowman
- Medowie Public School
- Salt Ash Public School
- Hunter River High School
- Grahamstown Public School
- Dance N Dazzle Studio
- Dancing Santa’s
- Astro Boy
- Deapool
- Pup Chase
- Fire Dog Marshall
- MarkeeP
- Batman in the Batmobile
- Santa in RAAF Bushmaster
What happens after the parade ends?
There will be lots to see and do, inside and outside the centre.
Inside the centre you can meet and greet characters from the parade and enjoy free kids activities including face painting, balloon twisting and Sandwizard.
It is also the perfect day to kick start your Christmas shopping with retailers holding a massive One Day Sale.
Outside the centre you can meet Bumblebee and Batman, have a blast on the free rides and enjoy all the wonderful musical entertainment with the local schools and dance groups performing throughout the day.
Even more free rides have been added to the Show n Shine year including tea cup, dodgem cars, bungee tramps, rock climbing, the sizzler and animals from Oakvale Wildlife Park.
The Christmas community event is also a chance for the community to say ‘thanks’ to local emergency services such as police, NSW Fire & Rescue, Rural Fire Service, NSW SES and local organisations Raymond Terrace Lions and Raymond Terrace Men’s Shed.
Show n Shine displays
- Raymond Terrace Lions
- Raymond Terrace Men’s Shed
- Hunter Water
- Port Stephens Examiner
- Port Stephens Council
- OPTUS
- Telstra
- Flight Centre
- RAAF Base Williamtown
- Legacy Newcastle
- Port Stephens Police
- Fire & Rescue NSW
- NSW Rural Fire Service
- NSW State Emergency Service
- PCYC
- ROADwhyz
- Local PBL schools
Performances
Stage one
- 10.30am – Irrawang Public School
- 10.50am – Karuah Public School
- 11am – A minute’s silence for Remembrance Day
- 11.20am – Irrawang High School CAPA
- 11.50 – Raymond Terrace Public School
- 12.05pm – Grahamstown Public School
- 12.15pm – Medowie Public School
- 12.130pm – Salt Ash Public School
- 12.40pm – Hunter River High Schoool
- 1.25pm - Salvation Army Community Hope Choir singing Christmas carols
Stage two
- 10am – Jumpin’ Jukebox
- 11am – A minute’s silence for Remembrance Day
- 11.05am – Dance n Dazzle
- 11.45am – Jumpin’ Jukebox
- 12.25pm – Irrawang High School
- 12.45pm – Jumpin’ Jukebox
- 1.25pm – Presentation for Show n Shine winners
- 1.45pm Jumpin’ Jukebox
Remembrance Day
Santa’s arrival and the Show n Shine will be held on Sunday, November 11 – Remembrance Day.
To mark this, and the 100th anniversary of the armistice, MarketPlace commissioned Raymond Terrace Men’s Shed to make 100 oversized poppies which were distributed to PBL schools to decorate.
The poppies are a symbol for what it means to many to pause, reflect and remember, plus lets our servicemen and women know they will never be forgotten, and that we are thankful for their sacrifices and duty.
These poppies will be exhibited on the sportsground on Sunday.
There will also be a minute’s silence observed insdie and outside the centre at 11am.