Festive spirit set to return to SA
Christmas cheer and joy is returning to South Australia this year with the state’s 89th National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant confirmed.
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest public parade will take place on Saturday, November 13 at Adelaide Oval and will officially mark the beginning of the festive season. Events South Australia, SA Health and SA Police confirmed the event in a press conference this morning at the Adelaide Riverbank Footbridge, giving locals a taste of the festive cheer to come.
Accompanied by an array of fantasy, four newly designed floats, including last year’s winning SALA competition entry and this year’s Mini Float winner, colourful characters, the Royal Family, bands, dancers and more, Father Christmas will officially declare that it’s Christmas time.
“It’s an honour and a pleasure to be able to announce that this treasured event is able to proceed, despite the ongoing challenges presented by COVID conditions across Australia,” said South Australian Premier, Steven Marshall MP.
“We are thrilled to be bringing the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant to the people of South Australia again, continuing the beloved community tradition for people of all ages across the state,” added Mr Marshall.
National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Director, Brian Gilbertson, is excited to bring the Pageant back in this capacity in 2021.
“The pageant team and all involved have been working incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure we can bring the pageant to life again this year, and we’re proud to announce alongside the SA Government, SA Health and SAPOL that the show will go on in the safest possible way. ”
“The safety of South Australians is a priority and the Events South Australia team will continue to work closely with SA Health and SAPOL to ensure we have an approved COVID Management Plan and deliver a safe National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.”
“While we understand how much our beloved fellow South Australians are eager to see the pageant return to the streets, we’re thrilled to be able to still deliver a magical experience in the more controlled environment of Adelaide Oval and through a spectacular live broadcast to watch from the comfort of their homes,” said Mr Gilbertson.
“Last year’s broadcast on the Nine Network had record viewership numbers, with pageant lovers watching across the country. The ratings are an overwhelming reflection of just how loved the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is.”
Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, said the team at SA Health is working closely with pageant organisers.
“Everyone did a great job at last year’s Christmas pageant celebrating in a COVID safe way, with hand hygiene and physical distancing,” Professor Spurrier said.
“My team and I understand the importance of this Christmas pageant for young children and their families and are working to ensure it will be able to go ahead while keeping all South Australians safe.
“As we did last year, SA Health will continue to work with the organisers to develop a plan for the festivities that includes risk mitigation strategies such as masks and QR check-ins.”
With additional Pageant details to be revealed in the coming weeks, Vito Borrello, National Pharmacies Chief Executive Officer, is excited to continue the tradition of the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant again in 2021.
“We’ve been working very closely with the dedicated team behind the scenes, and to be able to announce it is full steam ahead is a testament to all involved. We are thrilled to once again share the magic of the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant with the community this year,” said Mr Borrello.
“Our nearly 500 National Pharmacies staff and members involved in this year’s spectacular event are extremely excited by the opportunity to deliver Father Christmas, the Royal Family, and the joy of pageant day for all South Australian families, children and the wider community to enjoy.”
The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will remain a free event, with ticketing allocation conducted via a ballot system through Ticketek.
More information on ticketing and the full pageant schedule will be revealed in the coming weeks. To be the first to hear all updates, subscribe to our newsletter here or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant updates.