Christmas means many different things to different people but at the heart of every Kiwi Christmas is quality time spent with family and friends.
Tracy Shackleton, the Town Centre Manager and her fantastic team have pulled out all stops to ensure this year everyone will enjoy a Magical Christmas experience when they visit Papakura and its vast array of retailers.
Carols in the Park is on Friday the 2nd of December in Central Park from 6 pm. Pack a picnic and the picnic blanket and head along for a lovely night of music and entertainment.
The Papakura Rotary Santa Parade is on Sunday the 4th of December at 3 pm leaving from Central Park. Line the streets and watch the floats and the big man himself go down the Great South Road, then into Broadway, into Railway Street and back to Central Park.
And DON’T go home. Head down to Central Park for Chilling in the park from 4 – 6 pm after the Parade. Music, Bands, food trucks, fun for the kids, clowns, drinks, facepainting and so much more. Just come back – enjoy the happenings and relax until 6 pm. The kids will love you for this and it’s a great family fun day.
Papakura is looking forward to welcoming everyone for a special late-night shopping evening that has been months in the planning. On Thursday December 8th, Papakura shops will be open for one special evening and with 27 new 2022 business adding to the great variety already in town, it promises to be a late night of festival fun. From 5-7pm there will be specials, entertainment, retailers will be open late and food outlets will be putting on special ‘shopping snacks’ to nourish you at the end of your shopping bonanza. Mark this date in your diary, to make sure you get all your Christmas shopping done in one place It is definitely one not to be missed. Bring all the family and your friends! With all the specials and festive atmosphere, and the chance to have dinner in town, it will be an amazing, fun night.
Throughout December, Papakura is alive with all things Christmas and you will find many Christmas things to see and do.
The Santa Grotto is back again located at 178 Great South Road from the 15th of December to the 23rd of December for free Santa photos from 11 am to 3pm every day apart from Sunday 18th December.
Also, a gift Wrapping Station is in place at the Grotto where you can get your Christmas Gifts wrapped for a small donation to the Totara Hospice, who do such amazing work.
The Santa Mailbox set up by the library is a great way for families to ensure that their messages to the Big Man are received. All you have to do, is download the template for the letter from www.papakura.co.nz, print it out and let the kids fill it in. Pop it in the mailbox in the library foyer, let the magic happen and the kids will get a postcard back from Santa.
“Deck the halls” has already began and will continue as the town is transformed into a Christmas wonderland for the season. Retailers are prepared, open and stocked with everything you need and more for the holidays; whether you are having a mystery Santa BBQ at home with friends or planning to escape the confines of Auckland and hit the road for long overdue family reunions armed with the contents of every retail outlet you can get to.
Check out the window dressing competition, the beautiful Christmas Flags and red bows, the gorgeous boxes on the corner of the streets on the verandahs which are lit and shimmer and glow at night-time, the lights on the centre court tree and stars and sparkles around the fountain and the gorgeous Christmas swags around the town under the verandahs of the businesses – the town most certainly looks dressed for the occasion.
And if that isn’t enough to convince you that Papakura is THE place to check in for your Christmas shopping this December, there is the $1000 shopping draw! For every $20 you spend at a retailer in Papakura in December, pop your name and contact details on the back of your receipt, put it in the entry box in the library foyer before December 23rd and go into the draw to win $1000 worth of vouchers to spend in Papakura. So, what are you waiting for?
Get out there and celebrate Christmas and shopping in Papakura. For updates on what is happening, check out our #LivePapakura Instagram page or our 2 Facebook pages – Papakura.Town.Centre and LivePapakura and our website www.papakura.co.nz.
Papakura is looking forward to welcoming everyone for a special late-night shopping evening that has been months in the planning.
“Deck the halls” has already began and will continue as the town is transformed into a Christmas wonderland for the season.