Up early this morning and into the city so that we could get a good spot to watch the Pageant from. Katie was very excited and she was up and dressed before her eyes were even open.
God knows what time people get into town and pick their spots. We got in around 7.00am and there already was a sizeable crowd there. The forecast was for a few showers so I presume people get in early so they can sit under the verandahs of the stores and offices.
A few drops of rain did fall during the course of the morning but nothing to dampen peoples' spirit. Katie was happy because sitting across the road directly in front of us was a classmate of hers, Jacob. She spent the morning hanging out with him and then wanted to sit with him and watch the pageant. To occupy their time before the Pageant starts, the children draw on the road with chalk, blow bubbles, play with streamers or amuse themselves some other way.
The Christmas Pageant is in its 78th year. It was originally started by a shop owner, Mr Martin from John Martins. About 10 years ago John Martins was sold to David Jones and they didn't want to take on the running of the Pageant, so the Credit Unions (all of them combined) took it over.
The majority of the participants in the Pageant are Credit Union staff, family members, friends, some lucky Credit Union members and other well known SA identities. In the past even the Governor of SA has had a part in the pageant (as a pirate).
Before the Pageant started today they attempted and succeeded in setting a Guiness World Record ........9100 people.......the largest number of carol singers singing Christmas Carols at the one time. Last year the record was set for the longest Mexican Wave.
Today's crowd was estimated to be in excess of 300,000 people. 86 floats wind their way through the streets, starting at South Terrace, onto King William Street, down Wakefield Street, Pulteney Street, Grenfell Street, back onto King William Street and then into North Terrace stopping outside David Jones store where Father Christmas goes in and sets up 'residence' in the Magic Cave. He stays there right up until Christmas Eve and during that time is visited by thousands of children all telling him what they would like for Christmas.
For us parents and grandparents it is the realisation that we better hurry up and get the presents organised for Christmas Day.
After the Pageant finished the Fire Station had an Open Day and so we went off and had a look at that. They had various displays set up and saw how they used the 'Jaws of Life' to rescue people from car crashes. A fireman took us through the process of the special suits they wear, their breathing apparatus and then how they are cleaned and dried. We could also look through a heat imaging camera.
We went and had a walk through Rundle Mall, had something to eat, did some shopping and then ended up at Largs Bay where we had fish and chips on the beach for dinner. An exhausting but most enjoyable day finally getting home at around 9.00pm.
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