Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
In 2026, the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will be held on Saturday 14 November.
Traditionally, the Pageant is held on the second Saturday in November. If this day falls on Remembrance Day (11 November), the pageant is moved to the Saturday before or after, depending on the year.
The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is in Adelaide, South Australia. Traditionally the Pageant route travels around the streets of the Adelaide CBD.
In 2025 the Pageant departed from South Terrace at 9:30am and Father Christmas finished in Rundle Mall at about 11:30am.
The characters in the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant are played by staff of our naming rights partner National Pharmacies. Visit National Pharmacies for more information.
The bands in the Pageant play on a rotation system and performance groups are selected each year to suit the Pageant's needs.
We are more than happy to receive enquiries from bands and performance groups with great ideas. Please send your performance group's contact information and a brief description of your ideas to [email protected].
If your idea suits our artistic directional needs, you may just be asked to participate!
Sometimes there are competitions to allow the general public to get involved in the Pageant.
Keep an eye out for these chances and make sure to follow us on Facebook for updates on these opportunities. Good luck!
Father Christmas will officially finish at Beehive corner, on the corner of Rundle Mall. Father Christmas will then walk down Rundle Mall to National Pharmacies.
No, the floats will not be travelling down Rundle Mall.
Father Christmas is exploring the city this year – and we’re encouraging families to do the same! He will be delivered to Beehive Corner and then walk through Rundle Mall to National Pharmacies.
This is where it all began for Father Christmas, who travelled down Rundle Street, now known as Rundle Mall, from 1933 to 1974. It also means everyone visiting Adelaide for the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will be even closer to the city’s largest shopping precinct – the perfect chance to get started on that gift list early!
Charities interested in being considered as the official charity partner of the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant in the future should email their contact details to [email protected]
Yes, the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will be broadcast live on Channel 9 and 9Now at 10:30am on Pageant Day. You can watch a replay anytime on demand through 9Now.
Yes! If you live outside of South Australia, you can still watch the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant by streaming the spectacular event on 9Now. If it's not on the homepage, search for ‘National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant’ or 'Christmas Pageant'. Please keep in mind the event starts at 10.30am ACDT and may start at a different time in your local time zone.
Rudolph's Community Site is a special reserved area located on Wakefield Street that is accessible only by an official pass.
The site caters for the following groups with pre-arranged official passes:
- Regional schools and kindergartens
- Community and disability organisations
- Special schools (such as Novita)
Disabled toilets are located nearby.
As the site is a reserved space, attendees can arrive later in the morning. There is also a special bus drop-off zone, and great team of volunteers to provide assistance.
Attendees are invited to bring along low chairs, picnic blankets and cushions to sit on.
To get on Rudolph's Community Site mailing list or apply for your school or group's eligibility for the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant, please email [email protected]
You can shop the National Pharmacies Ornaments from October via their website here.
No new National Pharmacies Christmas ornaments will be released this year; however, a selection of ornaments from previous years is still available, offering a special way to share in the magic and celebrate the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.
