Norfolk Island Christmas Pageant & Parade 2023

The big Festive Pageant event is on tonight Friday 22 December. The Christmas Pageant is one of Norfolk Island’s special events with the community enjoying the annual Christmas Parade.

The town always looks great with the big Christmas tree, and I love the tree decorations with the big beach balls. Next to the tree is the pageant area which is also looking very festive. The pretty Christmas lights in town were also put up this week, and on Friday helpers will be setting up seats and organising lighting for the night.

To ensure public safety during the Christmas Parade and Christmas Pageant, there will be a partial road closure of Taylors Road from Rawson Hall to the RSL Club from 6pm – 6.20pm on Friday, 22 December 2023; and a partial road closure of Taylors Road from the Roundabout to the RSL Club from 6pm – 8.30pm.

On Friday evening the town will be closed off from 6pm to 8:30pm. There will be stalls selling great gifts and tasty food, and shops were open for Christmas shopping. The Christmas Pageant and Parade start just after 6pm and there will be many proud parents and grandparents with their cameras ready to photograph their children as they come through on floats. The parade floats are always colourful and many hours of decorating preparation and organising the costumes, and everyone will cheer them, as they drive through town. We all love watching the Baunti Beauties, dressed in their dance clothes, each year they join the parade and entertain the crowd with their heritage dancing.

Louise Tavener had a busy time in past months organising costumes and volunteers to dress up as characters for the floats. I am sure everyone will have a fun night and those on the floats should feel proud that they bring smiles to everyone faces. The final float is always Mr and Mrs Santa and helpers. The children love following the fire engine down the street collecting as many lollies as they can carry.

Musicians will keep the crowd entertained after the Christmas Parade. Thank you, Louise Tavener, along with Jimbo and many helping hands. Thank you to the MC, the helpers with the sound system for the pageant and to all of the performers, at this years’ concert, I sure it will be a great night enjoyed by many. Thank you, to the community members who make this evening a wonderful success.

I hope everyone enjoy the festive night in Burntpine and here are a few photos I took during the parade during recent years. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I hope you are enjoying my photos and my weekly articles and stories.

PS, we have all enjoyed the sound of rain on our roof this week, filling the water tanks and watering the gardens, but fingers crossed for a lovely fine evening for the 2023 Christmas Pageant.

Betty Matthews

22 December 2023