The Eastern Bay’s Olympic heroes with be honoured at a special parade in Whakatāne on Tuesday.

The parade will be held at Rex Morpeth Park and promises to be a vibrant celebration of the achievements of Dame Lisa Carrington, Hayden Wilde, Stacey Waaka and Mahina Paul.

Following the parade, there will be a pōwhiri and formal welcome from Ngāti Awa, with stage performances and acknowledgements of the athletes.

Dame Lisa, Stacey and Hayden will be at the event, but Mahina is competing in the Rugby 7s in Dubai and is unable to attend.

The event will begin with the medallists being driven around a pre-marked route in open-top vehicles, allowing the community to cheer them on from viewing spots around the park.

Schools, clubs, and families are encouraged to come along, and everyone is invited to get creative with flags and banners to wave in celebration.

While the athletes will not have time to sign autographs or pose for individual photos, pre-signed postcards will be available as mementos for attendees.

Those wishing to join the festivities should arrive from noon with lunch or a picnic, as the parade will officially begin at 1pm with the event concluding around 2pm.

There will be a designated bus drop-off zone. For on-street parking, please use Commerce Street, Russell Street, and McAlister Street. Remember not to park on berms or driveways.

This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our local Olympians and show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Come along and be part of this memorable afternoon.

Mayor Victor Luca said the parade was a way of celebrating the hard work, dedication, and the inspiration these athletes brought to the community.