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John Martin's Christmas Pageant


The Adelaide Christmas Pageant is a parade held annually in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Recognised as a heritage icon, the pageant is a state institution and is sponsored by four local credit unions. Since 1996 it has been known as the Credit Union Christmas Pageant. It is the second-largest parade of its kind in the world, following only Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Established in 1933, the event is staged on the second Saturday of November every year, usually from 9.30am. 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.

The pageant takes place in the Adelaide city centre, along a 3.35 kilometre route which commences on King William Street at South Terrace, and concludes on North Terrace, wherefrom Father Christmas proceeds to the Magic Cave, originally in the John Martin's building, and now in the rebuilt David Jones building on the same site. (The route sometimes changes slightly due to building or road works.)

Before and after the pageant, Adelaide Metro's public transports are given more frequency to accumulate the crowd.


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