Mount Gambier Christmas Parade

The Mount Gambier Christmas Parade is a yearly family event run by enthusiastic volunteers and celebrates all things great about Christmas!

Each year, a huge Christmas tree, Santa Clause, floats, and music make this a great day out for the whole family!

The parade is a hugely popular event in Mount Gambier. Many local schools and groups participate by creating colourful floats that are judged in some categories on creativity and effort.

With more than $3,500 in prize money to be won, it’s encouraged all community groups, sporting clubs, schools, businesses and individuals to fill in an entry form and bring their Christmas spirit to the streets.

There is no cost to participate, and entries may vary from walking and marching performances to larger float displays. The award categories include:
– Most Outstanding Entry
– Best Christmas Theme
– Best School Entry
– Best Club or Community Organisation Entry
– Open Category
– Best Themed Band
– Encouragement Award
– Best Non-City Entry
– Best Utilising Recycled Resources Entry
– Best Brass Band

Keep an eye out for some of the local favourites, including Christmas in Toy Town, Pirates ‘R’ Us, Bill the Steam Shovel, Hansel & Gretel, The Christmas Tree, Christmas Stars, and of course, the Christmas Stocking with Father Christmas at the end of the parade. There will be a few new surprise floats as well!

This magical event comes to life with the incredible support of community members of all ages! A community-based Advisory Group manages it, and many volunteers, as well as many local community groups and schools, create colourful and entertaining floats. They compete for prizes judged on creativity and effort in building the most impressive floats. Three judges score the floats in the various categories. The City of Mount Gambier holds a presentation night to award the winners a framed certificate and generous prize money.

The other great feature of the Mount Gambier Christmas Parade is the inclusion of the annual Blue Lake Brass Band Festival, which is delivered by the Lions Club of Mount Gambier. This event attracts high-quality brass bands from around Australia. Many bands come back year after year as it is one of the few times they get to March and play in front of such a large and appreciative audience.

Continue the festivities and visit Father Christmas at the Party in the Park.

There is plenty of accommodation in and around Mount Gambier and many beautiful natural attractions, including the Blue Lake, Umpherston Sinkhole and Engelbrecht Cave. So make a day of it and explore all the attractions Mount Gambier has to offer!