Santa, toy stack and ferris wheel kickstart SA Christmas light bonanza

Your favourite Christmas characters will once again line the banks of the River Torrens. See when they will return plus see what else is on offer this holiday season.

An iconic Christmas display will make its festive return to the banks of the River Torrens on Sunday night, but it’s only the first of SA’s well-known holiday exhibits to be unveiled for the 2022 season.

Formerly known as the West End Brewery Riverbank Christmas Lights Display, the Riverbank Christmas Display will launch a new free festive event series, including a Christmas Fare.

Following the closure of the West End brewery last year, owners Lion partnered with the West Torrens Council a to preserve the future of the event.

TELL US WHERE YOUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ARE

The Christmas light display on the banks of the River Torrens at Thebarton in 2021. Picture: Supplied

Mayor Michael Coxon said the council was thrilled to be able to continue the tradition.

“All of the decorations are back like Santa and the Reindeers, the Big Whale, the Toy Stack, the Ferris Wheel and much more and better than ever,” he said.

“We encourage everyone to come down and bring the family for a great night out.”

The display will run from 3pm to midnight on November 28 to January 2 2023, while the Christmas Fare will host a family fun day on Sunday December 4 and Christmas markets on December 11 and 18 from 3pm to 8pm over the Holland St Bridge.

Up the hill, the Lights of Lobethal Festival will open on December 10, bringing the largest community Christmas light display in the Southern Hemisphere to life.

A pageant will march down the main street of the historic town, concluding the evening with a concert.

The Valley of Praise Christmas Maze will entertain the kids on December 17 and 18, while a living nativity scene will put on a show every night at 8.50pm and 9.20pm.

The lights will continue into the new year.

“Mr Christmas”, Peter Mangelsdorf with Christmas lights in his shed. Picture: Dylan Coker

Loxton will shine bright in honour of their beloved “Mr Christmas”, Peter Mangelsdorf who died on Tuesday aged 69.

A former fruit farmer, Mr Mangelsdorf was the founder of the region’s Christmas Wonderland – an illuminated display that stretched the 250m frontage of his property and could be seen from kilometres away.

Considering his ill health, Mr Mangelsdorf stepped away from the event in March, but organiser Michelle Hill said he was updated with the progress of the move to the Loxton North Sports Club by sending photos and videos to his hospital bed.

“When he passed away we thought there are two ways of doing this; we put the flags at half mast and don’t turn the lights on, or we make sure Peter’s passion lives on and switch them on,” she said.

“His wife Julie and family gave us his blessing to make sure the event went ahead, so we could continue to deliver the message that he has delivered for 37 years to the people of the Riverland.”