2023 National Pharmacies Australia Adelaide Christmas Pageant

Since 1933, the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant has grown to become one of Australia's most cherished events, celebrated every November with the support of National Pharmacies and the South Australian Tourism Commission's events arm, Events South Australia. Started by Sir Edward (Bill) Hayward.
In 1896, Mr Edward Waterfield Hayward - then owner of the John Martin & Company Limited, established the 'Magic Cave'. It was a Christmas fantasy world, to support children's cultural heritage and provide a joyful community Christmas experience.
The first Christmas Pageant was held during the Great Depression in 1933, some thirty-seven years after the creation of the Magic Cave. The Christmas Pageant escorted Father Christmas to the Magic Cave. Created by Sir Edward Hayward (Mr Bill), who was the grandson of Mr E. W. Hayward; the Pageant featured approximately eight floats, four bands and ran for around 40 minutes. 200,000 spectators came to watch the Pageant. Bill and his wife, Ursula wanted to create a happy time for children in South Australia who were not doing so well during the World Wide Depression.
The Pageant encouraged the development of artists, with a team of artists, carpenters, wardrobe designers and mechanics all involved in the Pageant.
The Pageant tradition has continued since then, sharing the magic of Christmas with different generations of children.
As the Southern Hemisphere's largest public parade, it marks the official welcoming of Father Christmas to Australia, with the man in red greeted by well over 240,000 excited parade-goers in 2022 waving their favourite floats by from behind the 'Blue Honour Line'.
The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant was held on Saturday 4th November 2023 with a crowd of about 300,000 people, making it one of the largest pageants in the World. This year a marching band from Portland, Oregon joined the pageant. They had seen a video of a previous pageant and wished to join in.
The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is a magical, free community event, full of fantasy, floats, colourful characters, bands, dancers and more, shared by generations of Australians.
National Pharmacies is the title sponsor of the Christmas Pageant, and a proud South Australian organisation. Since opening its first dispensary in Adelaide in 1911, National Pharmacies has expanded to 51 pharmacies across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, and 20 Optical Stores in South Australia and is proud to partner with the event to continue captivating generations of Australian children.
The South Australian Government supports the pageant by provided all Police free of charge to the organizers and free public transport all day on all busses, trains and trams.