It’s never too early to get festive and now is the perfect time to start building your float for the 2025 Seeka Te Puke Christmas Float Parade, set to bring Christmas sparkle to Te Puke this December.

This year’s parade theme is Steampunk and Vintage, offering plenty of creative opportunities for participants to think outside the box.

“Now is the time to start thinking about ideas for your float,” said Sally Benning, events coordinator for EPIC Te Puke.

“Schools can begin creating their entries, and businesses and community groups can start planning now to bring their visions to life.”

As always, the parade will take place on the first Saturday in December, which this year falls on December 6. Alongside the parade, the Festive Market Event will add to the atmosphere, inviting families and visitors to enjoy a day full of celebration.

Participants are encouraged to embrace the vintage vibe and bring out their classic vehicles, tractors, bikes, scooters, dump trucks, unicycles, boats, and caravans – as well as themed floats to match the Steampunk and Vintage aesthetic.

Benning said there will be three prize categories for the best floats, for community organisations, the education sector, and businesses.

Each category has a prize pool of $725 EPIC Te Puke dollars split into first $400, second $200, third $100 and highly commended $25, with the Supreme Winning float awarded an additional $600 which brings the top prize to $1000 EPIC Te Puke dollars.

Judging will take place on the day of the parade, which begins at 11am.

A heartwarming tradition continues this year, as EPIC Te Puke will again invite a deserving child to share Santa’s sleigh.

“We’d like to offer the opportunity to a child who could use a little extra Christmas cheer,” said Benning.

If you know a child who would be a great fit, email their details to: events@epictepuke.co.nz.

“We once again thank our parade naming sponsor, Seeka, and our valued partners, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the Western Bay Community Events Fund,” Benning said.

As more information becomes available, check out: epictepuke.co.nz or tepukeonline.nz.

If bad weather, the rain date is December 13. To volunteer at the event, email: events@epictepuke.co.nz