Adelaide Christmas Pageant
The Adelaide Christmas Pageant is a parade held annually in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Established in 1933, the event is staged annually on the second Saturday of November, typically from 9.30am except 2020 and 2021 where it was broadcast at 7:00pm. It comprises a procession of 85 sets and 1,700 volunteers, including some 63 floats, 15 bands, 164 clowns, dancing groups, and walking performers, all culminating in the arrival of Father Christmas. The pageant is officially recognised as a "heritage icon" by the National Trust of Australia, and a "state institution" by the Government of South Australia.
| Adelaide Christmas Pageant | |
|---|---|
Father Christmas greeting South Australians at the Adelaide Town Hall in 2019 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Christmas Pageant |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Years active | 91 |
| Inaugurated | 18 November 1933 |
| Founder | Sir Edward Hayward |
| Previous event | 4 November 2023 |
| Next event | 2024 |
| Attendance | 325,000+ (2019) |
| Sponsor | National Pharmacies |
| Website | www |
The pageant has been owned by the South Australian Government since 1996, and National Pharmacies has been the naming rights sponsor since 2019.
The pageant route commenced on King William Street at South Terrace and ran through the city to terminate at Adelaide Town Hall. Before 2019, the pageant traditionally ended on North Terrace outside the John Martin's (later David Jones building) where from Father Christmas would proceed inside to the Magic Cave. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pageant was instead held in Adelaide Oval to a limited audience on a ballot system.