Christmas decorations are up in the streets, and the finishing touches are being added to the floats as the City prepares for the 2022 NF McDonnell and Sons Mount Gambier Christmas Parade at 11:00am on Saturday 19 November 2022.
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the city will welcome back the parade with 49 floats travelling down Commercial Street.
City of Mount Gambier Team Leader Community Events, Xarnia Keding, said that spectators will see some exciting new floats, including Clarence the Clown, Christmas Elves, and Santa’s Phone, along with some recently restored favourite floats from previous parades.
“The Christmas Parade is made possible due to the incredible volunteers that work for months preparing for the big day, and the schools, sporting and community groups, and brass bands that make the day the spectacular event that the parade is,” Ms Keding said.
Lynette Martin, Mayor of the City of Mount Gambier, said that the Christmas Parade is an exciting day for everyone in the city, both young and old.
“The Mount Gambier Christmas Parade has been held every year since 1959, except for the last two years, so it is wonderful to see the event return to the city streets,” Mayor Martin said.
“I thank everyone involved with the Parade and, in particular, the Christmas Parade Advisory Group for their continued commitment, and major sponsors NF McDonnell & Sons and WIN TV for their generosity in ensuring that our Christmas Parade will continue to delight the thousands of spectators lining the street to welcome Father Christmas.” Mayor of Mount Gambier Lynette Martin
Brass bands will again be a thrilling addition to the floats, adding music and colour to Commercial Street, with six bands, including two junior bands marching in the parade.
With thousands of people expected to line the streets for the event, attendees are reminded to honour the blue line during the parade for safety reasons.
The event has long been sponsored by Mount Gambier company NF McDonnell and Sons, and CEO Craig Nisbett said he and the team are proud to be associated with the annual Christmas Parade.
“NF McDonnell and Sons is a long-time supporter of the Christmas Parade, and the return to the street in November is fantastic for the city and the thousands of people that line Commercial Street to welcome Father Christmas to the city,” Mr Nisbet said.
The NF McDonnell and Sons Christmas Parade begins at 11:00am at Crouch Street North, travelling West on Commercial Street to Vansittart Park.
Once the parade has finished, Father Christmas will attend ‘Party in the Park’ at the Cave Gardens/Thugi with live performances and children’s entertainment.
