The AAM Timber Mount Gambier Christmas Parade will celebrate the beginning of the festive season along Commercial Street on Saturday.
The much-loved annual parade celebrates its 65th year in 2024.
City of Mount Gambier Community Events Team Leader Xarnia Keding said she was excited to have 51 entries taking part in the parade this year, with a new float joining the return of the crowd favourites.
“Our hard-working parade shed volunteers have been refurbishing the old pirate ship float and it has now been transformed into Noah’s Ark,” she said.
“Glenburnie Primary School students will proudly sit on the boat and walk alongside this float in the parade.”
The parade begins from Crouch Street North at 11am, travelling west on Commercial Street to Vansittart Park.
Children and families will line the street to watch the floats go by, waiting in anticipation for the jolly man himself – Father Christmas.
The Mount Gambier City Band, Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band and the Hamilton and District Pipe Band will participate in the parade. However, the Lions Club Blue Lake Brass Band Festival, street march and massed march traditionally run alongside the parade will not go ahead this year.
“Allen Woodham has recently resigned from the Brass Band Festival. He delivered a fantastic event of national importance which brought brass bands from all over the state and interstate together to compete in Mount Gambier,” Mrs Keding said.
“It was run through the Lions Club of Mount Gambier and they decided not to go ahead with the event this year. Therefore, it has been difficult to attract as many brass bands from afar to come to our city to march and play in the Christmas Parade.”
Mrs Keding said with thousands of people expected to converge on the heart of the city for the event, attendees are reminded to stay behind the blue safety line at all times during the parade.
“It is really important that people who are planning to attend the parade remain behind the blue painted line on both sides of Commercial Street from Crouch Street to Wehl Street for the duration of the parade,” she said.
Following the parade, Father Christmas will attend the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier West’s Party in the Park event at the Cave Gardens with live performances, food
and drinks and children’s entertainment.
The Jingle and Mingle Street Celebration will also feature family fun for all ages on Commercial Street between 12pm and 4pm, delivered by the Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce.
