Free public transport and new float revealed as SA prepares to welcome Father Christmas

SA Gov

The final addition to the 91st National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant named the Sounds of Christmas completes the float line-up for 2024. It features a Christmas village with a town square and its own choir, local not-for-profit choir school Young Adelaide Voices, who will perform atop the float as it travels down the 3.5km route this Saturday.

Young Adelaide Voices will be one of three musical acts featured on floats throughout the parade, including Celtic singer and harpist Siobhan Owen on ‘Christmas Carousel’ and year 11 student and singer Taylor Schwartz on ‘Christmas in Toytown.’

Music has been an essential component to the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant across its 91-year history, with 18 bands and three choirs featuring in the parade this weekend.

In total, 170 moving theatrical sets, more than 20 dance groups, and over 300 clowns and elves will make for a spectacular return of the event in the heart of Adelaide.

With 300,000 people lining the city streets each year, the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is the largest public parade in the southern hemisphere.

The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant remains a free, community event. It will be held this Saturday, 4 November from 9:30am at South Terrace and will conclude with the arrival of Father Christmas at the Adelaide Town Hall.

South Australians will enjoy free travel on all Adelaide Metro bus, train and tram services to and from this year’s National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant, as the iconic event celebrates its 91st birthday.

Free public transport will be available on Pageant Day with exact times to be finalised by DIT shortly.

Pageant goers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the event tips ahead of Pageant Day, which are available at .

The Pageant begins the festive season and continues a blockbuster line-up of events in South Australia including Feast Festival, VAILO Adelaide 500, Adelaide Rally, Adelaide International, Santos Tour Down Under, Adelaide Fringe, and Adelaide Festival.

As put by Zoe Bettison

I look forward to the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant kicking off the state’s festive season.

With great access to this free, community event in the heart of Adelaide, we expect to see bumper crowds out and about in the city on Saturday.

This event is absolutely cherished by our state, and it is so positive to see South Australians get behind it year after year with their gleaming smiles and cheers.

As put by Brian Gilbertson, Director National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant

I am proud to showcase Sounds of Christmas and the talented Young Adelaide Voices.

There are so many magical and wonderful moments in our 2023 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant line-up, but providing a spotlight for musical and vocal talent is one of my favourites.

Knowing the quality and abilities of all our musicians, bands, clowns, elves, performers, and dancers, I can say with confidence that those along the blue honour line are in for quite the experience this Saturday.

As put by Vito Borrello, Chief Executive Officer National Pharmacies

We are excited at National Pharmacies to bring another spectacular and iconic edition of this event, and with two sleeps to go, the countdown is well and truly on.

There is so much talent involved in every aspect of this historic event, the people of South Australia are in for a treat. I am thrilled that we can help bring everyone along the streets so much joy to kick off the festive season.

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