The Ellesmere Echo

26/10/2025

🎁 Leeston Santa Parade is Coming ...

🎄 The countdown is on! The 46th Annual Leeston Santa Parade is coming Friday, 5 December!

Get ready for an evening full of festive fun:
✨ Free children’s entertainment — bouncy castles, pony rides, petting zoo & face painting
✨ The Leeston Physio Santa Dash 🏃‍♂️🎅
✨ Free photos with Santa 📸
✨ Free prize draw 🎁
✨ Fee Lolly Scramble
✨ And ...... the Movie in the Park – How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey! 🍿

Save the date, gather your whānau, and follow this page for more surprises!

Road closed from 5pm onwards.

23/10/2025

🎅 The countdown is ON! The 46th Leeston Santa Parade is coming Friday, 5 December 🎄

✨ 5.00pm Fun starts
🏃‍♂️ 5.30pm Leeston Physio Santa Dash
🎉 6.30pm Santa Parade
🎁 7.30pm Free prize draw, lolly scramble & photos with Santa after the parade
🎬 8.00pm Movie in the Park: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

PLUS free children’s entertainment — bouncy castles, face painting, pony rides & petting zoo 🐴

A night of completely free family fun — because Christmas in Ellesmere is about community ❤️

23/10/2025

✨ Calling all crafters! ✨

We still have a few spots left for craft stalls at the 46th Annual Leeston Santa Parade on Friday, 5 December!

If you create something special — handmade gifts, festive treats, or unique crafts — this is your chance to showcase it to thousands of locals.

🎁 A great way to kick off your Christmas sales and be part of an unforgettable community night!

Register now before spaces fill:
👉 https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0e6a80920285468394698d6cf8841607

20/10/2025

30/09/2025

Send a message to learn more

12/08/2025

🎉 Need a Popcorn Machine for your next event? 🍿

Ellesmere Promotions Trust is now renting out our commercial Popcorn Machine – perfect for school fairs, fundraisers, birthdays, and community events!

👉 Rental is just $100 per day, which includes a $50 bond. The bond will be refunded if the machine is returned clean, undamaged, and on time.

✨ It’s easy to use and great fun to watch – kids love seeing the popcorn pop!
➡️ Makes 250g of popcorn every 2 minutes (just 1 cup of kernels, a little oil, and butter is all you need).

📅 Fill out the request form here:
🔗 https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/a9d9dceca1c648d6b2e06784fb117d37

✅ We will respond to all requests within 48 hours.
🧾 A GST invoice will be sent for payment – please don’t pay anyone unless it comes directly from us.

Let the popping begin! 🎈

30/07/2025

30/07/2025

🎉 Freebies Alert – But We Need You! 🎉
The Ellesmere Echo, Suburban Eatery, and Leeston Hammer Hardware are giving away goodies — but no one’s claiming them!

💛 Know a local legend?
Pop into Suburban Café and nominate someone who’s gone above and beyond in our community — they could win a FREE coffee and muffin!

🎂 Got a birthday coming up?
Drop into Leeston Hammer Hardware and put a name down for a chance to win a special birthday gift!
Let’s spread the love and celebrate our awesome locals!

03/07/2025

🌟 We Need You – Vote for Your Local Paper! 🌟
We’re thrilled to announce that The Ellesmere Echo has been nominated for the People’s Choice Award at the Selwyn Awards 2025!

As your dedicated community newspaper, we proudly shine a light on local stories, champion the spirit of neighbourliness, support mental wellbeing, and encourage growth in our amazing Selwyn district.

🗳️ Voting opens Monday 30 June at 12pm
🕛 Closes midnight Sunday 20 July
📍 Every vote helps us continue doing what we love—celebrating you, our community!

👉 Click the link to vote [insert link when available]
💬 Share this post and tell your friends to !

This award wouldn’t just be a win for us—it would be a win for the whole Ellesmere community.

02/07/2025

📅 1 July – 11 days to go!

🦕 The countdown begins! Only 11 more sleeps until The Land Before Time takes over Southbridge Hall for a night of dino-sized fun!

🍿 Free popcorn
☕ Free hot chocolate (BYO mug!)
🎟️ Family night out for just $10 adults / $5 kids / under 5's free
🎁 Pre-purchase to go in the draw to win the movie + a surprise!

✅ Book now and help us plan the snacks!
👉 https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/feb39d9874804c8e9181cbdcbd7b01a4