The imaginations of Wellington's children have been sparkling with creativity in recent weeks. Imaginary ice creams 'as magical as Christmas' have been taking shape on paper in classrooms around the region.

It was all in the spirit of a search for Santa's Wellington side-kick - the winning ice cream inventor would sit next to Santa in his sleigh at the Tip Top Santa Parade in Wellington on Sunday 15th November at 2pm.

The judges at Tip Top were impressed by the children's inventiveness - there were sprinkles of jandal-shaped jubes, raspberry pohutukawa flowers, a chocolate gumboot, marshmallow fish and chips, a pink snowman, a Christmas stocking-shaped cone, and a Santa-like Sir Edmund Hillary at the peak of an ice cream mountain.

But it was nine year old Thomas Busby from Raumati South School who took out the big prize, with his goody goody gum drops creation complete with fresh strawberries, mint Christmas trees, chocolate flakes and a layer of edible gold.

The Tip Top Santa Parade starts at 2pm on Sunday 15th November in Lambton Quay near Ballance Street, travels down Lambton Quay to Willis Street, along Willis Street, to Mercer Street, to Wakefield Street, and to Cuba Street.

After the parade, more colour and action will transform Civic Square, as the Popsicle After-Party entertainment plays from 3.00pm until 4.30pm. At the After-Party children will be able to 'get munked' like Alvin and the Chipmunks complete with a temporary chipmunk voice and visit the Popsicle Band's back-stage caravan for free photos, face-painting and crazy hair-dos.

Before the parade begins, there will be a gold coin collection for the Wellington Children's Hospital. And if the weather happens to rain on Santa's parade, an announcement will be made on Newstalk ZB at 9am and the Tip Top Santa Parade will reconvene the following Sunday 22nd November.

The Wellington Santa Parade is sponsored by The Dominion Post, Wellington City Council, Classic Hits 90FM and Tip Top Ice Cream.