Adelaide Christmas Pageant
Encyclopedia
Santa Claus parade
Santa Claus parades or Christmas pageants are parades held in some countries to celebrate the official opening of the Christmas season with the arrival of Santa Claus....
held annually in the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n capital of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. It is the largest event of its kind in the world, attracting crowds of over 400,000 and televised to millions more. Recognised as a heritage icon
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
, the pageant is a state institution
Government of South Australia
The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
and is sponsored by six local credit unions.
Beginning in 1933 as the John Martin's Christmas Pageant, the event is staged in early November every year, usually on a Saturday morning. It comprises a procession
Procession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
of 75 sets and 1,700 volunteers, including 57 floats, 15 bands, 164 clowns, dancing groups, and walking performers, all culminating in the arrival of Father Christmas
Father Christmas
Father Christmas is the name used in many English-speaking countries for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name exists in several other countries, including France , Spain , Brazil , Portugal , Italy , Armenia , India...
.
The pageant takes place in the Adelaide city centre
Adelaide city centre
The Adelaide city centre is the innermost locality of Greater Adelaide, known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town". The locality is split into two key geographical distinctions: the city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces; and that part of the Adelaide Parklands...
, along a 3.35 kilometre route which commences on King William Street
King William Street, Adelaide
King William Street is the part of a major arterial road that traverses the CBD and centre of Adelaide . It was named by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837 after King William IV, the then reigning monarch, who died within a month...
at South Terrace
South Terrace, Adelaide
South Terrace is a street on the south side of the city centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs from Anzac Highway and connects to Glen Osmond Road. King William Street ends at South Terrace. It is the southern edge of the city centre, and is bounded by parklands to the south,...
, and concludes on North Terrace
North Terrace, Adelaide
North Terrace is one of the four terraces that bound the central business and residential district of the city of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It runs east-west, along the northern edge of the CBD.-North Side of North Terrace:...
, wherefrom Father Christmas proceeds to the Magic Cave
Santa's Grotto
- The Legend of Santa's Workshop :Santa's Workshop or Santa's Grotto, is the workshop where Santa Claus makes the toys and presents given out at Christmas. In Santa Claus mythology, the workshop is a sprawling complex located at the North Pole...
, originally in the John Martin's
John Martin & Co.
John Martin & Co. Ltd, colloquially known as John Martin's or simply Johnnies, was an Adelaide-based company which ran a popular chain of department stores in South Australia. It operated for more than 130 years, from 1866 until its closure in 1998...
building, and now in the rebuilt David Jones
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
building on the same site. (The route was changed slightly for 2007).
History
The Adelaide Christmas Pageant was founded by Sir Edward HaywardEdward Hayward
Sir Edward Waterfield Hayward was an Australian businessman, best known for owning and managing John Martin's, a chain of department stores in Adelaide, South Australia, and for instigating the Adelaide Christmas Pageant....
, owner of the Adelaide department store John Martin's
John Martin & Co.
John Martin & Co. Ltd, colloquially known as John Martin's or simply Johnnies, was an Adelaide-based company which ran a popular chain of department stores in South Australia. It operated for more than 130 years, from 1866 until its closure in 1998...
, who was inspired by the Toronto Santa Claus Parade
Toronto Santa Claus Parade
The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is a Santa Claus parade held annually in mid-November in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. More than a half million people attend the parade every year. The parade starts at 12:30pm and ends approximately 3:30pm...
and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
. He opened the first pageant on 18 November 1933 at the height of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. It was a success; running for around 40 minutes with just 8 floats and 3 bands, it attracted 200,000 spectators. Father Christmas was introduced in 1934 and tradition of the pageant finishing at the Magic Cave (itself created in 1905) was established.
During the war years
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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. In 1979, the largest induction of new floats took place, with 16 joining the pageant.
In 1985, John Martin's was acquired by David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
, who continued the pageant under the John Martin's name. However, with the collapse of the Adelaide Steamship Group
Adelaide Steamship Company
The Adelaide Steamship Company was formed by a group of South Australian businessmen in 1875. Their aim was to control the transport of goods between Adelaide and Melbourne and profit from the need for an efficient and comfortable passenger service...
(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
Government of South Australia
The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
acquired the event. 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
Australian Central Credit Union
People's Choice Credit Union is an Australian credit union headquartered in Adelaide, with branches in metropolitan Adelaide, regional South Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia...
, Savings & Loans, Community CPS, PowerState, Satisfac and the Police Credit Union. Today, the pageant is managed by Events South Australia, a division of the South Australian Tourism Commission
South Australian Tourism Commission
The South Australian Tourism Commission is commission set up by the Government of South Australia to promote Tourism in South Australia.-SATC Divisions:* Corporate Services* Events South Australia* Executive Services...
.
The route was slightly changed for the 2007 Pageant.
In 2008 there was a Guinness world record
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
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.
Broadcast
The Pageant is broadcast officially by NWS-9NWS-9
NWS is an Australian television station owned by the WIN Corporation which is based in Adelaide, Australia. The station's name, NWS is an acronym of The NeWs South Australia.-Origins:...
, the local affiliate of the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
. For many years the broadcast was carried separately by both SAS-7
SAS-7
SAS is a television station in Adelaide, South Australia. It is part of the Australian Seven Network.SAS-7 was originally known as SAS-10, commencing broadcasting on 26 July 1965. On 27 December 1987, SAS-10 and ADS-7 switched broadcast channels, ADS moving to channel 10, SAS moving to channel 7...
and ABS-2.
Commentators and Presenters in recent years have included:
- 2005: Rob KelvinRob KelvinRob Kelvin is a former television news presenter who lives in Adelaide, South Australia.He previously was a presenter of the weeknight edition of Nine News Adelaide produced by NWS-9. Kelvin presented the bulletin with Kevin Crease until February 2007, when Crease retired after being diagnosed...
and Georgina McGuinnessGeorgina McGuinnessGeorgina McGuinness was the anchor of Nine News Adelaides weekend 6pm news bulletin from 1989 to 2011.An Adelaide native, born 29th August, 1966, Georgina studied at Seymour College and at the Magill campus of the South Australian College of Advanced Education...
, with Mark BickleyMark BickleyMark Alan Bickley is an Australian rules football coach of the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League . Before becoming a coach, Bickley was a player for the Crows from 1991 until 2003, captaining the team to both the 1997 and 1998 AFL premierships and media commentator, most notably...
and Lisa McAskill. - 2006: Rob KelvinRob KelvinRob Kelvin is a former television news presenter who lives in Adelaide, South Australia.He previously was a presenter of the weeknight edition of Nine News Adelaide produced by NWS-9. Kelvin presented the bulletin with Kevin Crease until February 2007, when Crease retired after being diagnosed...
and Georgina McGuinnessGeorgina McGuinnessGeorgina McGuinness was the anchor of Nine News Adelaides weekend 6pm news bulletin from 1989 to 2011.An Adelaide native, born 29th August, 1966, Georgina studied at Seymour College and at the Magill campus of the South Australian College of Advanced Education...
, with Mark BickleyMark BickleyMark Alan Bickley is an Australian rules football coach of the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League . Before becoming a coach, Bickley was a player for the Crows from 1991 until 2003, captaining the team to both the 1997 and 1998 AFL premierships and media commentator, most notably...
and Lisa McAskill. - 2007: Georgina McGuinnessGeorgina McGuinnessGeorgina McGuinness was the anchor of Nine News Adelaides weekend 6pm news bulletin from 1989 to 2011.An Adelaide native, born 29th August, 1966, Georgina studied at Seymour College and at the Magill campus of the South Australian College of Advanced Education...
and Kym DillonKym DillonKym Dillon is the lead sports presenter for Nine News Adelaide. He is also part of the successful breakfast radio trio Kym, Ali and Dzelde, currently on Triple M. He played football for former SANFL club West Torrens.-References:...
, with Mark BickleyMark BickleyMark Alan Bickley is an Australian rules football coach of the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League . Before becoming a coach, Bickley was a player for the Crows from 1991 until 2003, captaining the team to both the 1997 and 1998 AFL premierships and media commentator, most notably...
and Lisa McAskill. - 2008: Kelly NestorKelly Nestor (journalist)Kelly Nestor is an Australian television news presenter and she is currently working for The Advertiser.- Biography :Nestor was born and raised in Broken Hill, New South Wales, but made her name as a news presenter in Adelaide....
and Brenton Ragless, with Georgina McGuinnessGeorgina McGuinnessGeorgina McGuinness was the anchor of Nine News Adelaides weekend 6pm news bulletin from 1989 to 2011.An Adelaide native, born 29th August, 1966, Georgina studied at Seymour College and at the Magill campus of the South Australian College of Advanced Education...
, Mark BickleyMark BickleyMark Alan Bickley is an Australian rules football coach of the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League . Before becoming a coach, Bickley was a player for the Crows from 1991 until 2003, captaining the team to both the 1997 and 1998 AFL premierships and media commentator, most notably...
and Kate CollinsKate Collins (journalist)Kate Collins is a South Australian television presenter, and current presenter of Nine News Adelaide.Kate was formerly presenter of the Adelaide edition of A Current Affair, a position she held from 2008 to 2009....
. - 2009: Brenton Ragless and Kate CollinsKate Collins (journalist)Kate Collins is a South Australian television presenter, and current presenter of Nine News Adelaide.Kate was formerly presenter of the Adelaide edition of A Current Affair, a position she held from 2008 to 2009....
, with Kelly NestorKelly Nestor (journalist)Kelly Nestor is an Australian television news presenter and she is currently working for The Advertiser.- Biography :Nestor was born and raised in Broken Hill, New South Wales, but made her name as a news presenter in Adelaide....
and Jason 'Snowey' Carter.