Celebrate the festive season with the 2024 edition of A Very Darwin Christmas Pageant

Thousands of people will join together in Christmas joy to celebrate the record-breaking third installment of A Very Darwin Christmas Pageant this weekend. Find out how to celebrate Christmas this year troppo-style.

Darcy Fitzgerald

less than 2 min read

November 14, 2024 - 8:28PM

2023 Darwin Christmas Pageant. Picture: Supplied

Northern Territory

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The Northern Territory Government and City of Darwin have invited Territorians to celebrate the city’s unique Christmas spirit with A Very Darwin Christmas Pageant this Saturday on the Esplanade.

Join the festive fun and community spirit with a record number of floats and schools participating in this year’s parade.

Last year, more than 13,000 people attended the festivities, which signal the beginning of the tropical Christmas celebrations.

The family-friendly event will include roaming performances along Smith Street Mall, delicious food throughout the city, improved accessibility areas, ample free parking, and of course, the extravagant parade.

The third annual A Very Darwin Christmas Pageant will kick off at 5.30pm with a parade commencing at Knuckey Street on the Esplanade and travelling down Cavenagh Street, through Bennett Street, and finishing at Herbert Street.

Crowds line the route for the annual Christmas Pageant and Parade down the Esplanade and Knuckey St. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Activate Darwin executive director Jo Smallacombe said the diversity in floats and participants made it a true community event.

“A Very Darwin Christmas Pageant is such a fantastic Territory event and it’s amazing to see so many community groups, schools, sporting clubs and organisations get involved this year,“ she said.

“We’ve already seen some truly unique concepts for this year’s floats, and we think pageant goers will be really excited to see some of the new floats and critters making their pageant debut.“

The event will conclude at 7pm with Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis lighting the Christmas tree. The timing from 5.30pm to 7pm will allow attendees to spend less time sweating in the heat, and more time soaking up the Christmas joy.

2023 Darwin Christmas Pageant. Picture: Supplied

“We are thrilled to once again partner with the Northern Territory Government on the A Very Darwin Christmas Pageant which gets bigger and better every year,“ Mr Vatskalis said.

“The Christmas Pageant kickstarts a fantastic range of Christmas events in our city, and I encourage everyone to make the most of what our vibrant and colourful city has to offer at this time of year.

“Merry Christmas everyone.”