A Very Darwin Christmas Pageant 2024: Tropical tradition upheld as thousands take to streets
Thousands of Territorians enjoyed fantastic floats, dazzling dancers and Christmas joy in Darwin on Saturday. See our best pictures and watch the video.
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Thousands of Territorians braved the heat to line the streets in celebration of A Very Darwin Christmas Pageant on Saturday, with the event fast becoming a tropical tradition heralding both the silly season and the looming wet.
This year’s pageant, the third instalment of the annual event, was the largest parade to date, with over 50 floats and performance troupes gliding through the city streets.
The fantastic floats included a few fishing boats, a CareFlight plane, a Bunnings Grinch, dancers and even Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
One of the highlights of the parade was the Territory Wildlife float, which was adorned with ornamental crocs, a giant gingerbread man, and live animals including a snake, lizard and joey.
Twelve-year-old friends Eliza Hendry and Isabella Smith were glad to be watching their first pageant.
The pair shared their excitement as horses from the charity Riding for the Disabled trotted down the Esplanade.
Emily Tjung from the Chung Wah Society brought some beasts of her own.
“We’ll be walking the parade with our lions troupe as well as live music,” she said.
“We have the kindergarten and senior troupe members here today, so ages four and up. It’s a big group with approximately forty of us.
“Our biggest event of the year is normally Chinese New Year, so it’s nice to perform for the community again outside of that event.”
It was Jordan Tuit from Darwin’s second pageant. She was flanked by children jumping with joy.
Jordan reflected on the unique qualities that make it “a very Darwin” Christmas pageant.
“It’s the heat and the floats which are particularly Darwin,” she said.
“It’s also the atmosphere and the community feel. That’s what makes Darwin, Darwin.”
Michael Hurren from Reeling Veterans, a mental health charity which supports veterans through the therapy of fishing was pleased to see the variety of floats on display.
“We’re here with our Reeling Veterans boat float,” he said.
“It’s great to see all the different floats and everybody’s unique take on Christmas.”
Reverend Vicki Aitken of Darwin Memorial Uniting Church said it was also an opportunity to remind the community about the true meaning of Christmas.
“We’re walking today with baby Jesus to give people some thoughts about who Jesus is and what is the true meaning of Christmas,” she said.
“Around Christmas time, I think it’s important that people remember that Jesus was known as the Prince of Peace.
“With so much global turmoil impacting people’s individual lives, it’s nice to know we’re not alone. We all have Jesus, the Prince of Peace, if we want Jesus to be in our lives.”
BEST PICTURES FROM THE 2024 PAGEANT
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Originally published as A Very Darwin Christmas Pageant 2024: Tropical tradition upheld as thousands take to streets
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