Inside the ‘emotional’ Christmas Pageant at Adelaide Oval

So many things were different about the Pageant this year. But at night, in an era of social distancing, the spirit of Christmas created something magical.

A clown waves hello from the Christmas Pageant at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Keryn Stevens

There was not the usual 300,000-strong crowd lining the streets of Adelaide.

But the festive spirit was well and truly alive at Adelaide Oval last night, as Father Christmas brought joy to children at the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.

The 25,000 spectators lucky enough to score a ticket through a ballot were treated to a two-hour arena spectacular in a twist on the iconic event, now in its 88th year.

The arrival of the man in red at 8.45pm might have been past bedtime for some but was a welcome moment of joy in a year many would like to forget.

Gallery: See 55 photos from the 2020 Christmas Pageant at Adelaide Oval

“With everything that has happened this year, it’s just so great that it can still go ahead,” St Morris mother Susie Hopton said. She brought her two children Laura, 9, and Rosie, 8, to their first Pageant, with their grandparents, Kay and Kim Riding.

“I had my husband on the phone, checking every hour when the ballot went live,” said mum Carolyn Creeper, there with husband Chris Facey and their children, Joshua, 6, and Sienna, 8, who was excited to see friends from her dance school TIDC in the Pageant.

In a year of firsts, the beloved Adelaide parade was held away from its usual route along Adelaide CBD streets and also took place in the evening for the first time in its long history.

More than 1500 performers circled the Oval with 55 floats while dancers thrilled the audience from the middle of the ground.

Old favourites such as Nipper and Nimble were there on their brand new float, as well as this year’s new addition, Yellow Brick Road, which paid homage to a magical land of Oz.

Tribute was paid to South Australia’s frontline workers before the parade with a guard of honour. The state’s chief public health officer, Nicola Spurrier, was given the honour of kicking things off, blowing the whistle to signal the start of the parade – a tradition dating back to 1933.

But Father Christmas, always the star of the show whatever the venue, was who everyone was there to see.

Pageant director Brian Gilbertson described the event as a huge success.

“I think it bought our communities together both at home and here at the Oval,” he said.

“Everyone really went the extra mile this year from the organisers to the volunteers to the frontlines.

“It was a very emotional Pageant and a spectacular end result.”

Sebastian Ascott of Woodside, 9, his brother Harrison, 3, with Bushfire Kids Connect friends Olive, 9, Eddie, 9 and Archie, 4. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

FUN NEW MEMORIES FOR OUR BUSHFIRE KIDS

By Brad Crouch

Children affected by the Adelaide Hills bushfires had Christmas come early with tickets to the Pageant

Organisers allocated 75 tickets to the Bushfire Kids Connect group allowing families including those who lost their homes and presents five days before last Christmas to make magical memories this season. With assistance from Adelaide Hills Council and Australian Red Cross, the day started with a community barbecue at Woodside then the group was bussed to Adelaide Oval.

Bushfire Kids Connect grew out of an idea by Sebastian Ascott, 9, amid the ruins of last year’s fires.

As devastated families dealt with the aftermath of the fires, Sebastian told his mother Carly he and brother Harrison, 3, simply wanted to do “something fun” with other kids.

This grew into Facebook site facebook.com/BushfireKidsConnect/ which now has more than 200 members connecting children affected by the fires to do fun projects and join events, including those from Kangaroo Island and Yorketown.

“Our property lost sheds, fencing and the kids’ cubby but the CFS saved our house,” Mrs Ascott said.

“Many other children were not so lucky, including our neighbours’ son Archie who is friends with my children, they lost their home.

The fires hit our area just five days before Christmas so it is important this year to create happy memories to associate with the time of year.”