Festival to shine light on Kaikohe

Kaikohe is set to shine next month with the first Shine Festival bringing seven weeks of Christmas-themed celebrations.

The festival starts with the illumination on November 17 of what organisers say will be the largest Christmas tree seen in Northland. Entertainment around the 15m Norfolk pine will start at 6pm with an interdenominational blessing, with candlelight carols signalling the official lighting of the tree as darkness falls.

Broadway will be decorated with flags, bows and lights, while a shop will be converted into Santa's grotto and filled with Christmas trees decorated by schools and community groups.

The theme for the December 8 Kaikohe Christmas parade will be the "animal and bird world".

The Shine Kaikohe Festival is being organised by a Kaikohe Projects Promotions Charitable Trust committee and sponsored by the Oxford Trust, Pub Charities and community groups.

Churches, marae, community groups and schools can register their own festival events via www.kaikohe.co.nz