Christmas Pageant to return to the streets for first time since pandemic outbreak

After a two-year hiatus, Adelaide’s famous Christmas Pageant will return to the masses on the streets for the first time since the pandemic began.

For the first time since the pandemic began, the beloved Christmas Pageant will be returning to the streets of Adelaide this November.

For the past two years Billy Bulldozer, Toby Toy Truck, and Santa himself, found a new home at Adelaide Oval, but excitement is building for all the classic pageant characters to return to the streets of the CBD.

The return of the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant to its pre-pandemic location and 9:30am timeslot on Saturday, November 12, is another sign that the state is truly recovering from the Covid era said Premier Peter Malinauskas at Monday’s announcement.

“The pageant is such an important part of our states calendar,” he said.

“As someone with young kids I understand that getting tickets to the pageant the last two years was very tricky and having it at night was also difficult.”

The Christmas Pageant at Adelaide Oval in 2021. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant in the streets. Picture: Matt Loxton

Flinders Park resident, Laura McInerney, 25, said the Christmas Pageant filled her with plenty of fond memories and she was glad the magic would continue for future generations.

“It is so good to see the pageant returning to the streets this year, so kids will get to have the same experience we did when we were younger,” she said.

“Also having it back outside will make it much more accessible to everyone which is fantastic.”

Pre-pandemic a 300,000-strong crowd packed the CBD for the event each year.

The arena spectacular at Adelaide Oval was limited to 25,000 spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions in 2020, which rose to 35,000 in 2021, which meant many South Australian kids were left out of the fun.

The city's Christmas Pageant back in 1933.

Santa arrives at the 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant. Picture: Matt Loxton

“The Oval felt very exclusive and not at all personal,” said Hope Valley resident Becc Regenass.

Ms Regenass has featured in the pageant twice and said the “community feeling” when it is in the CBD is like nothing else.

This year’s National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant – which will usher in the festive season on November 12 – will mark the 90th anniversary of the historic event.

Pageant director Brian Gilbertson said the past two years at Adelaide Oval will be remembered as a great chapter of the Christmas Pageant’s history, but the return to the streets will “be extra special.”

“Thank you to everyone who supported the last two pageants; we had a great experience at the Oval and we should thank them for their support,” he said.

“Ninety years is a milestone that we are thrilled to celebrate with you all.”

The first Christmas Pageant was held during the Great Depression in 1933, and featured eight floats and four bands.

Now the event is the largest public parade in the southern hemisphere and is considered one of Australia’s most cherished events.

All crowd restrictions will be scrapped for the event so prepare to arrive early to watch the parade make its way from South Tce to the Adelaide Town Hall.