All aboard for Blossom Parade | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

It's been all hands on deck at St Joseph's School for the last couple of weeks. Parents, teachers and kids alike have been busy making tiny paper blossoms to cover the school's float for the Hastings Blossom Parade on Saturday.

Hundreds, maybe thousands, of paper blossoms will cover the "Magic School Bus", making the float a real school-wide effort.

Fundraising committee president Lisa Jones has been heading the project for the several weeks it has taken to put the float together. She said parents have been chipping in beyond the call of duty and one dad, Shannon Sexton, even gave up the family lounge to construct and paint the giant yellow bus.

The float was still in pieces scattered around the school hall but Mrs Jones was confident it would be ready for Saturday.

"Last time we were up to midnight the night before, this time hopefully it's all under control," she said.

Nineteen other floats would appear in Saturday's parade, alongside an array of bands, clowns, characters and decorated vehicles.

Parade director Lyn Mackie expected the parade to be "colourful and noisy". The foam cannon would also make an appearance, suggesting the parade could also be a touch soggy.

Ms Mackie said: "It's always a fun event. It's a way for the community to come together and celebrate the coming of spring." She said there were a few new groups this year, which would bring a unique energy to the parade.

Free seating outside Beds'R'Us on Queen St will be provided for those with mobility problems and a free bus will run from the K-Mart bus stop to Flaxmere at 4pm. Road closures will start from 12.30pm and the parade begins at 1.30pm. Street entertainment and a craft market in the centre will be getting people in the festive spirit from 10.30am.