Organisers are hopeful today's Auckland Santa Parade can push forward despite the drizzly weather.
Volunteers have been flat out since October to pull the event together.
Parade board chair Pam Glaiser says she has her fingers crossed the rain holds out.
"We've been watching the weather very, very closely, and we're just hoping for a fine day."
It's the event's 85th birthday this year. Ms Glaiser says she's thrilled to see it coming together, despite Saturday's fracas over Santa Claus' gender.
The parade had replaced its usual Santa at the last minute after the man that played him, Neville Baker, had made comments to media about the fact that Santa should not have "boobies".
"We're so excited. We have a fabulous parade lined up for everyone. We were so busy yesterday with all the last-minute touches."
One of those last-minute touches was replacing the star of the show, after the man who's played Santa for the last five years was dumped after saying women couldn't be Santa and he only hired them to be Santa's helpers in a "little skirt and top".
A call will be made at 9am as to whether it pushes ahead, despite the weather.
Ms Glaiser says it's no easy feat, and wouldn't want the board's efforts to go to waste.
"It's like running a small business. I suppose until you actually do someone's job, you really have no idea what's involved."
Newshub.
