When the annual Santa Parade through downtown Avarua is held, there’s usually just a few days remaining before the arrival of the main event – Christmas Day.

The parade also adds to the eager anticipation of Rarotonga’s children. and this year’s one was no exception.

Hordes of patient parents and their offspring lined the route from Constitution Park on Thursday and there were squeals of excitement as some of their favourite cartoon and movie characters came into view, followed by the pair everyone had been waiting for, Rarotonga’s tropical Santa Claus, and his wife, Mrs Claus.

The excitement grew even more intense as some of the characters threw handfuls of lollies into the crowd and the children scampered to retrieve as many as they could before the parade moved on.

After the postponement of the parade last week, organisers were keeping their fingers crossed for a nice day on Thursday, and with the cooperation of the weather this time, the event was an outstanding success.