This item is part of the Tauranga Libraries Norman Blackie Collection. Norman Blackie (1899-1993) was a keen amateur filmmaker who captured civic events around Tauranga using a modified Keystone Model A7 16mm camera.
This actuality shows scenes from Tauranga Orange Festivals between 1962 and 1979 and the Bay of Plenty Floral Festival in 1963. Crowds in the street watch festivities, including: town criers; haka displays; children's fancy dress parade; bagpipe band; opening of the Highland games.
Scenes from the Tauranga Floral Festival 1963 include a street parade with floats and floral displays inside the Town Hall. Following footage shows: the festival Queen putting pamphlets on cars; town criers needle in the hay stack games; the Festival Queen crowning ceremony in the Town Hall.
Scenes of the 1966 Orange Festival parade include various floats traveling down the road as crowds watch, and festival officials and Queen on stage.
Scenes of the 1973 Orange Festival parade floats include a Māori waka, a religious group, and a festival Queen on an Orange float.
Scenes from the 1974 Orange Festival include: the Bay of Plenty festival Queen on top of her float; a brass band; festival Princess; shots of the crowd watching the parade; the Salvation Army tambourine demonstration.
Footage from the Orange Festival parades in 1976, 1978 and 1979 follows, featuring various floats and performing groups as they travel down the street.