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Adelaide Christmas Pageant

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Adelaide Christmas Pageant
Father Christmas greeting South Australians at the Adelaide Town Hall in 2019
StatusActive
GenreChristmas Pageant
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Adelaide, South Australia
CountryAustralia
Years active92
Inaugurated18 November 1933 (1933-11-18)
FounderSir Edward Hayward
Previous event2 November 2024
Next eventTBA
Attendance325,000+ (2024)[1]
SponsorNational Pharmacies
Websitewww.christmaspageant.com.au

The Adelaide Christmas Pageant is a parade held annually in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Established in 1933, the event is staged annually on the second Saturday of November, typically from 9.30am except 2020 and 2021 where it was broadcast at 7:00pm. It comprises a procession of 85 sets and 1,700 volunteers, including some 63 floats, 15 bands, 164 clowns, dancing groups, and walking performers, all culminating in the arrival of Father Christmas.[2] The pageant is officially recognised as a "heritage icon" by the National Trust of Australia,[3] and a "state institution" by the Government of South Australia.[citation needed]

The pageant has been owned by the South Australian Government since 1996, and National Pharmacies has been the naming rights sponsor since 2019.[4]

The pageant route commenced on King William Street at South Terrace and ran through the city to terminate at Adelaide Town Hall. Before 2019, the pageant traditionally ended on North Terrace outside the John Martin's (later David Jones building) where from Father Christmas would proceed inside to the Magic Cave.[5] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pageant was instead held in Adelaide Oval to a limited audience on a ballot system.

History

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Adelaide's Christmas Pageant was founded by Sir Edward Hayward, owner of the Adelaide department store John Martin's, who was inspired by the Toronto Santa Claus Parade and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[6] He opened the first 'Children's Christmas Parade' on 18 November 1933 at the height of the Great Depression. It was a success; running for around 40 minutes with just 8 floats and 3 bands, it attracted 200,000 spectators and from then the tradition of the John Martin's Christmas Pageant or as it was affectionately known the 'Johnnie's Christmas Pageant' was born.[7] Father Christmas was introduced in 1934 and tradition of the pageant finishing at the Magic Cave (itself created in 1905) was established.[8]

Crowds watch the John Martin's Christmas Pageant on King William Street in front of the Adelaide General Post Office, c. 1950s

During the war years of 1941–1944, the pageant was in abeyance. It was restored in 1945. By 1969, the event had grown significantly, with attendances reaching 500,000 and television broadcasting commencing.[7] In 1979, the largest induction of new floats took place, with 16 joining the pageant.[8]

In 1985, John Martin's was acquired by David Jones Limited, who continued the pageant under the John Martin's name. However, with the collapse of the Adelaide Steamship Group (of which David Jones was a significant member), and the public float of the David Jones retailing arm, in the mid-1990s the South Australian Government acquired the event, which it continues to manage through Events South Australia,[9] a division of the South Australian Tourism Commission. It sought sponsorship from the South Australian business community, and in 1996 sold the naming rights to the six South Australian Credit Unions: Australian Central, Savings & Loans,[10] Community CPS,[11] PowerState,[12] Satisfac[13] and the Police Credit Union,[7] which, as a result of mergers, had by 2018 become People's Choice Credit Union, Beyond Bank Australia, Credit Union SA and Police Credit Union.[14] One Johnnie's tradition that the credit unions have been continued is that of the Pageant Queen. In 2009 a Pageant King and Princes were introduced to the Pageant and with the Pageant Queen and Princesses make up the Pageant Royal Family. The Royal Family tour the state visiting schools, libraries and children's groups as well as the Women's and Children's Hospital on Pageant Day to share the Pageant magic.

Snow White float in 2004 pageant on King William Street

In 2008 there was a Guinness world record attempt for the longest and largest Mexican wave, but it failed.

In 2010 the spectators broke the record for the largest group of carol singers singing Christmas carols at the same time. They set a record of over 9,100 carol singers, breaking the previous record of 7,541 set in the USA.[15]

In 2019, National Pharmacies acquired the naming rights sponsorship of the event.[4] The pageant was additionally rerouted; no longer terminating at its traditional ending at the David Jones (previously John Martin's) building on North Terrace, it instead follows an adjusted route that finishes at Adelaide Town Hall.[5]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 pageant was altered drastically for the very first time. Instead of the traditional street parade it was more likened to an arena spectacular. The pageant was held at Adelaide Oval to a permitted audience of 25,000. The event was shifted from its traditional morning timeslot to a twilight performance starting at 7pm. Tickets were drawn from a ballot.[16]

The 2021 event was again held at Adelaide Oval because of continuing restrictions and the Delta variant, again with the ballot system in place. However, the permitted audience was increased to 35,000 and masks were mandatory.[17]

The 2022 pageant returned to the street parade format using the 2019 route towards Adelaide Town Hall, with approximately 100,000 people in attendance due to continuing COVID restrictions and a thunderstorm.[18] The 2023 pageant continued the 2019 format with 300,000 people in attendance; it had been moved up to 4 November to avoid clashing with Remembrance Day.[19]

The 2024 Pageant will conclude at the corner of Rundle Mall and King William Street.

Broadcast

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The Pageant is currently broadcast officially by NWS-9, the local affiliate of the Nine Network. For many years the broadcast was carried by SAS-7, ABS-2 and ADS-10.

Previous commentators have included; Jane Reilly, Ron Sullivan, Patsy Biscoe, Anne Haddy (guest), Brenton Whittle, Robin Roendfeldt, Joanna Moore, Kevin Crease, Lynn Weston, Franci Chammings, Cheryl Mills, Sue Baron, Lionel Williams. Alec Macaskil, Ric Marshall, Pam Tamblyn, John Bannon (guest), Grant Piro, Benita Collins, Tania Nugent, Simon Burke, Jane Doyle, Pete Michell, Dale Sinclair, Elizabeth Doyle, Tony Brooks, Malcolm Harslett, Sandy Roberts, Judith Barr, Julie Anthony (guest), John Bok and Richard Coombe.

Commentators and Presenters in recent years have included:

References

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  1. ^ "South Australians line the streets for 2018 Adelaide Credit Union Christmas Pageant". News.com.au. Sunday Mail. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  2. ^ "The Credit Union Christmas Pageant".
  3. ^ "BankSA Heritage Items List". National Trust of South Australia. 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 25 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  4. ^ a b Douglass, Robyn (9 October 2018). "National Pharmacies to sponsor Adelaide's Christmas Pageant from 2019". News.com.au. The Advertiser. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Adelaide Christmas Pageant's new route to end at town hall instead of David Jones' Magic Cave". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  6. ^ Sly, David (29 October 2004). "Spirit of Johnnies lives on". The Adelaide Review. Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. Retrieved 2006-10-16.
  7. ^ a b c "Adelaide's First Pageant". Credit Union Christmas Pageant. 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2006.
  8. ^ a b "Credit Union Pageant Tradition". Credit Union Christmas Pageant. 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 March 2007. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  9. ^ The people behind the Credit Union Christmas Pageant Archived 11 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, cupageant.com.au
  10. ^ Christmas Pageant[permanent dead link‍], Savings & Loans Credit Union
  11. ^ Credit Union Christmas Pageant Archived 17 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Community CPS Credit Union
  12. ^ Christmas Pageant competition[permanent dead link‍], PowerState Credit Union
  13. ^ About the Christmas Pageant, Satisfac Credit Union
  14. ^ "Pageant Partners". Credit Union Christmas Pageant. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013.
  15. ^ Credit Union Christmas Pageant breaks into world-record books, www.adelaidenow.com.au
  16. ^ "ANNOUNCED: How you can get tickets to the 2020 Christmas Pageant". 16 October 2020.
  17. ^ "From Santa with love: Christmas Pageant in pictures". www.adelaidenow.com.au. 13 November 2021.
  18. ^ "National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Back on the Streets for 90th year". 23 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Adelaide Christmas Pageant takes to the streets with thousands of attendees". ABC News. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
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