More Info →Floral Parade - 'Youth for Christ' Float

Description

The Floral Festival was a weeklong series of events organised by the Palmerston North Public Relations Organisation between the 17th and 22nd of February 1958. The events were well attended, and many businesses got into the spirit of the occasion with floral themed window displays, quizzes, fashion shows and film festival showings. The event was topped off by the parade, attended by hundreds of people along the route.

On February 25th, the Manawatu Evening Standard published a picture of the float in the Square near the clocktower with the caption: "Youth For Christ: Introducing a more serious aspect to the scene at the Showgrounds on Saturday was this float which was entered by members of the Youth For Christ Movement. The flaming cross was thrown into relief by the thousands of beautiful flowers which decorated the entry. this contribution to the Floral Festival gained first prize in the natural blossom section."

After the festival, The Standard reported (25 February 1958) "Many people have congratulated Mr Beckett [Public Relations Officer] and his assistant Miss B. Norman, on the success of the Floral Festival which brought to the city visitors from over a wide area. With the influx of these visitors trade in the local retail stores automatically quickened in tempo, and it would appear that the festival did much for Palmerston North."

Identification

Object type

Image

Relation

2014-26

Date

February 22, 1958

Digitisation ID

2022S_2014-26_038782

Format

Slide