Capacity for Adelaide Christmas Pageant crowd boosted by 10,000 people to 35,000

If you missed out on last year’s Adelaide Christmas Pageant, there are now 10,000 extra chances to see the big man in the red suit at this year’s event.

Authorities have given this year’s Christmas Pageant an early present, boosting the crowd for the Adelaide Oval spectacle by 10,000.

SA Health has approved 35,000 people for the November 13 twilight event.

That’s 10,000 more than the 25,000 fans who attended last year’s historic twilight occasion.

Premier Steven Marshall welcomed the “fantastic news for our treasured Christmas Pageant”.

“We are thrilled to be bringing the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant to the people of South Australia again, this time with an additional 10,000 people being able to attend live,” he said.

Ballot registrations for the pageant will open next Friday at 10am before closing at 10pm on Sunday, October 31.

Australia’s biggest parade usually attracts crowds of more than 300,000 people, who pack the CBD’s streets on the second weekend in November for the festive season’s traditional start.

But the pandemic has stopped large mass gatherings, meaning organisers have been forced to draw up Covid-safe arena plans for a second consecutive year.

Pageant director Brian Gilbertson said lengthy talks had occurred with SA Health and police.

“We have all of our Christmas elves busily working ahead of the November 13 Pageant spectacular,” he said.

Nine- year-old Esther Mann, of Somerton Park, said she was excited to get dressed up in her Christmas outfit. “Christmas is not far away and I’m looking forward to watching the pageant,” the year 4 student said.

Mr Marshall said those who missed out on a ticket in the ballot could watch the pageant on TV. “So there’s plenty of opportunity to see the magical floats … and of course the big guy himself – Father Christmas,” he said.