Police prepared for Christmas pageant crowds

Following the well-established tradition, SAPOL will lead the pageant with a Blue Light vehicle and Mounted Operations Unit members, as a reminder to all about the importance of keeping the community safe and staying behind the ‘Blue Honour Line’.

The Band of South Australia Police will bring in the festive cheer as the first band to march and will be followed by hundreds of floats and performers.

More than 300,000 people are expected to pack the streets to witness the pageant begin on South Terrace and travel north along King William Street, west of Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, through Reconciliation Plaza along Wakefield Street, left into Pulteney Street, left along North Terrace and then south along King William Street finishing at Beehive Corner, Rundle Mall.

With the influx of people into the CBD, Superintendent Scott Denny, encourages all families to utilise the ‘If I’m lost’ wristbands, which are an effective method for quickly reuniting children and caregivers at large events.

“In 2024 we had 4 missing people at the Christmas Pageant. All were reunited quickly thanks to their ‘If I’m lost’ wristbands,” Superintendent Denny said.

“Our police officers patrolling the event will have wristbands for children and vulnerable people, which require a phone number only. This enables police and emergency services to easily reunite lost family members.

“It only takes a second to lose people in such a busy crowd, so we encourage anyone attending the event with children to take a photo of them, and to dress them in highly visible clothing, making it easier to identify them in a large group.

“Also, caregivers should discuss and arrange a meeting spot with children just in case you get separated while at the event.”

After Father Christmas has sleighed and waved his way through the city, he and the reindeers will come to a halt at Beehive Corner. A long way from the North Pole, Father Christmas will complete the journey down Rundle Mall at the Gawler Place canopy. This area is now part of the new Adelaide CBD Declared Shopping Precinct. In this area, police can now use their own version of a ‘magic wand’ to conduct metal detector searches on any person or their property.

To protect the community and all the festive guests, with new powers police can order a person or group posing a risk to public safety to leave the Adelaide CBD declared shopping precinct for 24 hours.

In the lead up to the pageant, road closures will be in place around Adelaide. Reconciliation Plaza (eastbound lanes) will be closed between Grote Street and Wakefield Street from 9:30am on Wednesday 5 November. Then the whole plaza will be closed from 9pm on Friday 7 November to 6pm on Sunday 9 November. To facilitate the event, there will be significant road closures on pageant day.

Superintendent Denny reminds pageant attendees making their pilgrimage into the CBD about the importance of planning ahead and staying informed.

“Pageant attendees must be aware that many road closures and public transport detours will be in place from 5am, so it’s extremely important to plan your drive with plenty of time to find a park and a viewing spot,” he said.

“Additional public transport, including buses, trains, and trams will also be running and are a recommended option for getting to and from the event.

“Motorists should also be wary of high pedestrian traffic in the area and note access onto Flinders from Franklin Street and Pirie Street from Waymouth Street will be local traffic only.”

To ensure everyone’s safety, SAPOL also encourages pageant attendees to:

• Label any backpacks/bags with names and contact details and don’t leave personal items unattended.
• If parents/guardians/caregivers are unable to obtain a wristband, write a contact number in pen on a child/vulnerable person’s wrist.
• Do not camp/set up on any roads prior to them being closed.
• Check the pageant route and consider road closures, parking restrictions, reduced speed limits and changes to public transport ahead of time to ensure a stress-free morning and be extra patient on the road.
• Report any suspicious behaviour at the pageant by calling 131 444, speaking to any police officer, or by attending a nearby police station at either 55 Hindley Street or 176 Grenfell Street.

“All we want for Christmas is an incident-free event,” Superintendent Denny added.

“We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable time.”

For more information on road closures and the pageant route visit: National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant

Members from South Australia Police’s Mounted Operations Unit waving to the crowd at last year’s event.

SAPOL’s Blue Light fleet will again lead the 2025 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.

‘If I’m lost’ wristbands will be available from any police officer, State Emergency Service or other pageant volunteer.