Floats

Austin 7 

Debut Year: NA

Size: 4.0m x 2.0m

Fun Fact: This Blue Austin 7 was built in 1909 and parade's along the route still in it's original condition.

Bee Merry

Debut Year: 2024

Size:  2.2m x 1.5m

Fun Fact: Bee Merry was designed by Lia Mewett from Ardtornish Primary School as part of the 2024 National Pharmacies Mini Float competition. She was inspired by the bee's that come out during the summertime and wanted to send a message to save the bees.

Billy Bulldozer

Debut Year: 2014

Size: 6.6m x 3.4m 

Fun Fact: Billy Bulldozer was designed by Stardust Castle workshop supervisor John Barone, in his 38th year with the Pageant.

Bruto

Debut Year: 2002

Size: 4.2m x 3.4m

Fun Fact: What’s big, pink, and fluffy and has fangs and horns? Bruto! He’s nothing to be afraid of though as one of the Pageant’s most popular floats. Two lucky children get a big monster cuddle every year as he makes his way along the Pageant route.

Bumper Christmas

Debut Year: 2026

Fun Fact: Designed by John Barone workshop supervisor. Christmas is magical so why wouldn’t there be baby penguins driving bumper cars at the fun park? It’s a Bumper Christmas. We need more fun in our lives and Bumper Christmas reminds us to share the magic in Joy!

Christmas BBQ

Debut Year: 2023

Size: 2.2m x 1.5m

Fun Fact: This float was designed by Alyssa Rudge, Breanna Giacopini & Ella Chappel from Paralowie R-12 School as part of the 2023 Mini Float competition. The theme was “What Christmas Means to Me”. The girls named the prawn on this mini set “Bazza”.

Christmas Carousel

Debut Year: 2021

Size: 8m x 3.6m 

Fun Fact: A new float for 2021, the Christmas Carousel features reindeers and sleighs in the place of horses.

Christmas in the Snow

Debut Year: 2020

Size: 8.5m x 4.1m

Fun Fact: A snowy Christmas Eve, some Australian animals have taken a trip to the northern hemisphere on the Christmas in the Snow float.

Christmas in Toytown

Debut Year: 2009

Size: 8.5m x 3.4m

Fun Fact: Christmas in Toytown was designed by John Barone and Barny Cundell from the Pageant workshop.

Christmas by the Pool

Debut Year: 2022

Size: 8.7m x 3.5m

Fun Fact: This float showcases a classic Aussie backyard with decking, clothesline, a pool and even features real grass thanks to Paul Munns and a live water tap and hose thanks to SA Water which is used by float characters to drizzle pageant-goers.

Christmas on Parade

Debut Year: 1999

Size: 8.4m x 2.5m

Fun Fact: This is a genuine London bus that was shipped to Adelaide in the 1970s specifically for the Pageant. The images on the sides of the bus were painted by Gary Lee Gaston – you can see some Pageant characters painted on there.

Christmas Party Time

Debut Year: 2017

Size: 8.9m x 3.6m

Fun Fact: The crocodile, polar bear, monkey, penguin, elephant and lion are all on a rotating turntable, on this Christmas Party Time float. 

Christmas Rapping

Debut Year: 2006

Size: 9.2m x 3.6m 

Fun Fact: Christmas Rapping is a huge Christmas ‘rage cage’ full of skaters, break dancers and rappers from DaKlinic.

Christmas Shoppe

Debut Year: 2018

Size: 7.0m x 3.6m

Fun Fact: Christmas Shoppe debuted the year the pageant theme was ‘Shining a light on kindness’.

Christmas Stocking

Debut Year: 2023

Size: 6m x 4m

Fun Fact: This float is nostalgic for many who visited the Magic Cave in their youth and received a free stocking that looked like this... just not quite as big! 

Christmas Tree

Debut Year: 2004 (refreshed in 2023)

Size: 6m x 4m

Fun Fact: This large Christmas Tree float stands at over 4 metres tall. It represents a South Australia tradition which is to put up the family Christmas tree on Pageant weekend.  

Cinderella

Debut Year: 2019

Size: 9.0m x 3.9m

Fun Fact: Cinderella and her fairy godmother ride this magical carriage float, surrounded by the prince, evil stepmother and the ugly step sisters.

Counting Down to Christmas

Debut Year: 2017

Size: 8.0m x 3.8m

Fun Fact: The large clock at the back of the Counting Down to Christmas float is counting down the seconds until Christmas Day.

Father Christmas

Debut Year: 2007

Size: 15.9m x 4.2m 

Fun Fact: Father Christmas has been making an appearance at the South Australian Christmas Pageant since 1933. The first Father Christmas float was a replica of a snow-covered house with a chimney, in which Father Christmas appeared from.

Fergus the North Pole Fire Engine

Debut Year: 2011

Size: 7.7m x 3.5m

Fun Fact: Fergus puts out fires in the North Pole with snow! Did you know that lots of emergency service people work behind the scenes to help the pageant, including the Fire Brigade, police and ambulance, St John and State Emergency services.

Gingerbread House

Debut Year: 2018

Size: 7.5m x 3.5m

Fun Fact: Float designed by long term Pageant artist, David Blight, for the last year of Credit Union sponsorship, making way for the new naming rights sponsor National Pharmacies.

Humpty Dumpty

Debut Year: 2024

Size: 6.6m x 3.7m

Fun Fact: Humpty Dumpty featured in the Pageant for many years before it retired in 2001. In 2024, artist Dave Clarke recreated the float with a new design. Humpy Dumpty’s rich history in the Pageant adds a touch of nostalgia to the float lineup.

Izzy the Dinosaur

Debut Year: 2021

Size: 6m x 3.2m

Fun Fact: Izzy the Dinosaur was designed and created by local artist and first-time float maker David Clarke, who won the 2021 SALA festival float design competition. The design took more than 20 weeks to design, sculpt, build, mechanic and paint.

Happy Elf

Debut Year: 2022

Size: 5.5m x 3.7m

Fun Fact: This jolly elf represents the delight felt at being back on the streets for the 90th year of the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant and the tradition of breaking out the Christmas decorations for another year. 

Jolly and Jingles

Debut Year: 2015

Size: 4.5m x 2.6m

Fun Fact: Jolly the Elf and Jingles the Reindeer are the Christmas Pageant’s treasured mascots. 

Kumangka malturri – apinthi

Debut Year: 2024

Size: 8.0m x 3.6m

Fun Fact: Kumangka malturri – apinthi - pronounced “koo-mung-car mal-doo-ree a-pin-dee,” - translates to “Coming Together” in Kaurna language and honours the Kaurna culture. The float design is inspired by Kaurna Country landscapes, flora and fauna and the coming together of people around campfires to celebrate community. There are three fireplaces representing the past, the present and the future.

Let the Pageant Begin!

Debut Year: 2023

Size: 6.4m x 4m

Fun Fact: This is the lead float in the Pageant. It builds anticipation for the parade of bands, groups and floats that will follow.

London Bus

Debut Year: 1994

Size: 8.4m x 2.5m

Fun Fact: The London Bus is an authentic London Bus. It started in the Pageant in 1973.

Made with Love and a Sprinkle of Magic

Debut Year: 2025

Size: NA

Fun Fact: Made with Love and a sprinkle of Magic was the winning design by Oakley Formosa age 10 from Redwood Park Primary School for the 2025 Mini float competition. It represents the time old tradition of setting a place for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve with cookies and milk.

Magic Fairyland

Debut Year: 2025

Size: NA

Fun Fact: Designed by Kate Schulz Magic Fairyland celebrates the fairies at the bottom of every garden and the possibility that Unicorns do indeed exist.

My Pet Dragon

Debut Year: 2025

Size: NA

Fun Fact: Dragons are a popular fantasy storyline and they engage the imagination of all ages from 5 – 95. My Pet Dragon is the image of a dragon flying through the streets of Adelaide for the very 1st time.

Nasty Neville

Debut Year: 1997

Size: 7.5m x 3.2m

Fun Fact: Over twenty years ago Nasty Neville was first captained and sailed by characters from Pulteney Grammar school who provide support back of house to the Pageant each year.

Nativity

Debut Year: 1997

Size: 7.0m x 3.3m

Fun Fact: The Nativity Float plays “O Holy Night”, which is Pageant director Brian Gilbertson’s favourite Christmas Song.

Nellie

Debut Year: 1983

Size: 2.4m x 2.4m

Fun Fact: Since 1983 Nellie has completed every Pageant. Nellie has 9000 moving parts and a 1940’s Ford Prefect motor. Nellie is a state icon and out of the four mechanical elephants built in the world, she is the only one still working.

Nipper and Nimble

Debut Year: 2020

Size: 8.5m x 4.0m

Fun Fact: Nipper and Nimble came together on this float in 2020, however, they have been in every pageant separately since it's inception. The Haywards started the Pageant in 1933 and Nipper was the name of the Hayward family rocking horse.

Pageant Bakery

Debut Year: NA

Size: 4.0m x 1.8m

Fun Fact: The Pageant Bakery float is surrounded by some very large chefs, who look as though they have eaten all the Christmas Pudding’s. In 2019, Seaview High School students participated in their first Christmas pageant, on the bakery float.

Pageant Express

Debut Year: 2018

Size: 7.0m x 3.5m

Fun Fact: The wheels on the Pageant Express are mechanised to move like a real train and two young children help drive the engine each year.

Possum Magic 

Debut Year: 2010

Size: 4.4m x 3.6m

Fun Fact: The Possum Magic float is based on one of Australia’s favourite books by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Viva’s.

PS. Murray Explorer

Debut Year: 2024

Size: 9.5m x 4m

Fun Fact: PS Murray Explorer is a tribute to the iconic riverboats from the Murray River region. The grand float features a live band playing festive tunes as it sails through the streets of Adelaide. It is the second-largest float in the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant, after the Father Christmas float.

Shaping our Wonderful World

Debut Year: 2019

Size: 8.5m x 3.7m

Fun Fact: Designed by Kari Lindsay, the large Mandela on the Shaping our Wonderful World float is based on the principal that the universe is made up of many parts and symbolises diversity.

Snowman (Let it Snow)

Debut Year: 2017

Size: 2.2m x 1.5m    

Fun Fact: This float was designed by Sophia Ivanica as part of the Mini Float competition. Sophia was in year 2 at the Para Vista Primary School when she created this float.  

Snow Dome

Debut Year: 2014

Size: 6.5m x 3.3m

Fun Fact: Inside of this very large snow dome is a very happy snow-family having a wonderful winter time!

Stardust Castle

Debut Year: 1998

Size: 6.3m x 3.6m

Fun Fact: See over 600 stars on Stardust Castle! Designed by Gary Lee Gaston, a highly respected fine portrait and landscape artist, he has made over 250 floats for the Pageant.

Summer Holiday

Debut Year: 2021

Size: 8m x 3.2m

Fun Fact: Summer Holiday was designed by John Barone to reflect Christmas time in South Australia and the Christmas caravanners who are the essence of summer.

The List Keeper

Debut Year: 2015

Size: 4.1m x 3.8m

Fun Fact: Watch out! The List Keeper has been overseeing the naughty and nice list for Father Christmas since 2015, in which he was one of 64 floats that year.

The Nutcracker Christmas Ballet

Debut Year: 2016

Size: 8.4m x 3.8m

Fun Fact: Dancers from the Australian Classical Youth Ballet lead the Nutcracker Christmas Ballet float each year.

Pogo

Debut Year: 1997

Size: 4.0m x 2.7m

Fun Fact: Pogo is an iconic face of the Pageant. He was designed by artist David Blight and he is the tallest clown in the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.

The Royal Christmas Ball

Debut Year: 2017

Size: 9.0m x 3.5m

Fun Fact: The Royal Christmas Ball carries the Pageant Royal Family. The Pageant Queen was first introduced following World War 2 in 1949.

The Soft Toys

Debut Year: 2017

Size: 7.3m x 3.6m

Fun Fact: The Soft Toys float was designed by David Blight, who has designed many floats of the pageant years. He is a member of the South Australian Music Hall of Fame and plays mouth organ for Cold Chisel.

Sounds & Signs of Christmas

Debut Year: 2022

Size: 7.5m x 3.5m

Fun Fact: The Sounds & Signs of Christmas float features a charming Christmas village with the choir singing in its Town Square. In 2026 Emma Memma will be on the float signing the sounds of Christmas to the crowd as the float goes past. 

Toby Toy Truck

Debut Year: 1998

Size: 5.0m x 3.6m

Fun Fact: Toby’s tip tray is full of toys and two lucky kids get to be in the drivers seat of Toby's Toy Truck each year.

The Magic Hat

Debut Year: 2026

Fun Fact: Designed by Dave Clarke. This is imagining where the elves live. I heard they live in Magic hats, so we created an elf house because maybe that’s where the magic lives. This year we share the magic. The magic lives in community and family and giving our time, our kindness, our love.

Winter Wonderland

Debut Year: 2012

Size: 8.1m x 3.8m

Fun Fact: The Winter Wonderland float was introduced in 2012 to celebrate 80 years since the first Christmas Pageant. It was designed by Kari Lindsay to capture a snowy northern hemisphere Christmas Day.

Ye Old Pageant Tram

Debut Year: 1997

Size: 6.6m x 2.4m

Fun Fact: The Ye Old Pageant Tram is based on how South Australia’s old trams used to look when they ran from the city to Glenelg beach.

Yellow Brick Road

Debut Year: 2020

Size: 8.0m x 3.6m

Fun Fact: Yellow Brick Road pays homage to the magical land of OZ with Dorothy, Toto, Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow all surrounded by munchkins.

12 Days of Christmas

Debut Year: 2025

Size: NA

Fun Fact: A big shout out to our regional communities who support the Pageant each year by celebrating the massive road trains that keep us all connected as a broader community.