Santa shares the limelight

MAARTEN HOLL/Dominion Post

ON PARADE: For some young ones, the pleasure lay in dressing up and taking part, whatever the fuss about the footballers.

MAARTEN HOLL/Dominion Post

TOP DAY: Father Christmas declared it "the best day''.

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Santa was sidelined as the All Whites rained on his parade, but the jolly fellow did not feel he was being overshadowed.

"No, they complement me," Santa Claus said yesterday as his float began its ride through downtown Wellington. "I'm excited – it's the best day of the year."

More than 60,000 people lined the streets – up 10,000 on last year – for the annual Santa parade, which doubled as an All Whites victory parade after their defeat of Bahrain on Saturday night.

The rousing cheers were for the All Whites, who led the 2pm parade's 23 floats. Fans, many still in white, chased the footballers down the street with flags.

Sidney Weil, 61, said he had been starved of big football matches since moving to Christchurch from South Africa. He flew to the capital for the game with his 11-year-old daughter Silke. "It far exceeded our wildest dreams, just the atmosphere." He was at the parade yesterday to catch a glimpse of the players.

"Santa Claus comes every year, the All Whites being successful in the World Cup game does not."

Dianne Cran, husband Neil and three-year-old son Max, of Seatoun, attended the parade – the parents for the footballers, Max for Santa.

"[The players] all look a bit jaded. I'm sure most had a big night but they deserved it," Mrs Cran said.

For the children, Santa did not disappoint. Reihana Parker, 7, a football fan, still rated Santa his favourite.

Floats of SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, The Simpsons, swan princesses and ducks entertained the youngsters as they passed through the central city from Lambton Quay to Cuba St.