John Martin's Christmas Pageant

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John Martin's Christmas Pageant John Martin's Christmas Pageant celebrates the Adelaide Christmas Pageant from 1933 to 1995.

21/10/2026

Hard to believe it’s been 29 years since ‘Pageant Memories’ at Carrick Hill.

Here’s a look back to almost 30 years ago.

The current exhibition, Meet Me at Johnnies’ closes on the 31st October.

Anthony

Toot the Tug and Seaside Capers.Whilst Toot was a float from the late 1970's he was retained as the tow motor for the ne...
17/10/2026

Toot the Tug and Seaside Capers.

Whilst Toot was a float from the late 1970's he was retained as the tow motor for the new Seaside Capers in 1982.

Seaside Capers was a float that completed 5 pageants before retiring. Harking back to 1920's with change booths and neck-to-knee bathers. Quite shocking at the time with women daring to show their knees.

These floats were designed to showcase pictures children might see in school in a living form.

Anthony

📸: Ryan Smith flickr

New floats revealed!This year's National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is not far away. On Friday, 2 new floats; A Bumpe...
11/10/2026

New floats revealed!

This year's National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is not far away. On Friday, 2 new floats; A Bumper Christmas and The Magic Hat were introduced and will be joining the pageant family.

We are truly grateful the pageant has remained in South Australia and continues to delight young and old as it has since 1933. A Bumper Christmas was created by artist, John Barone, a long-time employee with John Martin's, and 42 years creating the pageant magic.

The Christmas Pageant launch is as traditional as the pageant.
It's the first signal the pageant is weeks away and Christmas will be here before we know it.

Also joining the pageant once again will be special guest, Emma Memma.

See all the new additions on November 14th

Anthony

The Bob-Ups of 1972The Bob-Ups were aptly named due to a spring that was manually operated inside the costume that would...
10/10/2026

The Bob-Ups of 1972

The Bob-Ups were aptly named due to a spring that was manually operated inside the costume that would allow their heads to bob-up.

These date back to the early 1970's, however, there were a few iterations prior, usually with heads that would wobble. These bob-ups of which there were actually four had a long run before officially retiring from active pageant duty following the 1998 Credit Union Christmas Pageant.

New bob-ups were created in 1999, however, it was decided the heads would no longer bob-up, however, they are still fondly named the Bob-Ups.

Anthony

These flag bearers hail from the 1963 John Martin's Christmas Pageant.With the all the sparkle and smiles it's clear tha...
04/10/2026

These flag bearers hail from the 1963 John Martin's Christmas Pageant.

With the all the sparkle and smiles it's clear that Father Christmas is only moments away.

Were you participating or did you attend the 1963 Christmas Pageant?

Image correction: courtesy Raymond Zada

Anthony

30/09/2026

Undoubtedly one of John Martin’s Christmas Pageant’s most cutest floats was Scotty.

Arriving in the late 80’s Scotty proved extremely popular and could never decide to take the High Road or the Low Road.

When Scotty retired he was saved for a few years before returning in the Credit Union Christmas Pageant as Mack Doogal the Detective (said to be head of pageant security).

Whether as Scotty or Mack, he was just so adorable.

Commentating is Jane Reilly and Grant Piro

Anthony

Have you been to the Carrick Hill, ‘Meet Me at Johnnie’s’ exhibition yet? There’s still time.There’s a hidden gem on di...
27/09/2026

Have you been to the Carrick Hill, ‘Meet Me at Johnnie’s’ exhibition yet? There’s still time.

There’s a hidden gem on display: the artwork for the 1960 Humpty Dumpty float, which a few years later saw prominence on the cover of the book Tisi and the Pageant. It’s a nice little nugget of interest probably missed by many.

Make a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

‘Meet Me at Johnnie’s’ closes 31st October.

Anthony

25/09/2026

This iteration of the memorable Rotunda Band started its pageant life in 1982.

The new float was the pride and joy of the pageant team, so much so that it was chosen to open the pageant that year. As an excited Ron Sullivan expressed, no float had characters as high prior.

The moving cylinders at the rear along with the rotating canopy sign added a wonderful set of awe to the float.

And it appears it’s the original Campus Six with perennial pageant favourite Keith Conlon (drums), Bill Munro (trumpet), Johnny Malpas (banjo), Jerry Wesley Smith (bass), Rod Porter (clarinet) and Ernie Alderslade (trombone).

Commentators are Jane Reilly and Ron Sullivan.

Anthony

We cant wait 👏👏👏
25/09/2026

We cant wait 👏👏👏

22/09/2026

You hear it before you see it. It’s the sound of a distant drum that first signals the pageant is coming. The first excited voice, “it’s coming”, “I can see it” and before you know the pageant is in front of you. The Christmas season has officially began in South Australia once again.

The wait is finally over.

Commentating is Jane Reilly and Grant Piro.

Anthony

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Adelaide, SA
5000

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