Minister for Tourism Lucy Hood MP Member for Adelaide South Australians invited to join National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant countdown
Christmas is coming early this school holidays, with a fanfare of music and activities in Rundle Mall today which will officially start the one-month countdown to the 2023 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.
The public will get to see three new floats for the first time and enjoy a range of festivities including performances by the Band of the South Australia Police and the Australian Girls Choir, face-painting, book readings, Christmas food stalls, photo opportunities and roving performers.
The new floats being revealed today are named Christmas Tree, Christmas Stocking and Let the Pageant Begin 2023, and will feature in the upcoming 91st edition of the Pageant on Saturday 4 November.
This year’s Pageant will run on the first Saturday of November, a time change that aims to enable South Australians to pay their respects on Remembrance Day.
It is only the fourth time in history that the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant has moved from its traditional second Saturday in November timeslot.
The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is the largest public parade in the southern hemisphere. In 2022 the free event attracted more than 240,000 people to the streets of Adelaide.
The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is free to attend.
For event details, visit christmaspageant.com.au.
Quotes attributable to Zoe Bettison
This is an exciting signal that Christmas is fast approaching, and it follows the spectacular return of this beloved event to the streets of Adelaide in 2022 when more than 240,000 people gathered in our CBD.
As the largest public parade in the southern hemisphere, it is thrilling to see the continuous addition of new ideas and the evolution of the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant, which is a wonderful and joyous opener to South Australia’s festive season.
The Christmas period brings a boost to our local businesses in the Adelaide CBD, and what better way to kick-start the season than with a selection of free and festive activities in Rundle Mall today.
Quotes attributable to Lucy Hood
There’s no better way to kick off the countdown to Christmas than with our famous Pageant.
This year’s Pageant will round out what’s been a huge year for our city with festivals, musicals, new events like Gather Round and much more!
Quotes attributable to Brian Gilbertson, Director, National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant
The Christmas Tree and Christmas Stocking are synonymous with Christmas and are central to everyone’s memories of the festive season, making them essential upgrades for spreading the Joy of Christmas Pageant Day.
We hope to see lots of excited faces today in Rundle Mall, followed the mass of cheers and smiles along the blue honour line when the 91st National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant takes place in exactly one month.
Quotes attributable to Vito Borrello, CEO National Pharmacies
The new floats being showcased in Rundle Mall are perfect representations of the transformation and growth of the 91-year history of this unique street parade.
Today’s launch will be a reminder of how special the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is to everyone of all ages, and on behalf of National Pharmacies, we are honoured to share this exceptional and accessible event for all.
The music, food, colour, and atmosphere from today’s activities in Rundle Mall will serve as a teaser for what crowds can expect in just one month’s time along the streets of Adelaide.