It is the time of the Great Depression. On November 18th the first Christmas Pageant created by Sir Edward Hayward (Mr Bill) parades through the streets of Adelaide -approx 8 floats, 4 bands and 200,000 spectators turn out to witness something they had never seen before. The Christmas parade lasted approximately 40 minutes.  All participants were staff from John Martin's, Adelaide’s largest family retail store. The first pageant ran from Angas Street to John Martin's Rundle Street. Early costumes were made of crepe paper.  

Sir Edward was worried that no-one would turn up and so to ensure an audience he had a small aircraft fly low over Adelaide suburbs with a loud speaker to announce the event. “Father Christmas is arriving in Adelaide this morning,”' said the man dressed in red from the little plane. This caused traffic jams as people came flocking into Adelaide for what was at the time a unique event. The crowds did not know how to behave, whether to walk along with the floats or to stand and watch. Nearly everyone crammed into Rundle Street to see Father Christmas delivered to the Magic Cave through the "Children's Christmas Parade”.

The first pageant started at 11.00a.m. when Sir Edward Hayward blew a whistle. He continued to blow the whistle every year until his retirement in 1980.

John Martin's staff member Sydney Jones is appointed the first Pageant Director.

Nipper and Nimble, took part in the first pageant and have been in every pageant since then.

On the strength of the success experienced by the first parade, the pageant was again produced and has become an annual event for the people of South Australia.

Australian stories & icons are first acknowledged in the pageant programme.
First inclusion of a Lord Mayor's Christmas appeal float to raise money & donations for underprivileged children.

Crowds watch the Queen of Hearts float pass by.

Ali baba and the forty thieves in 1937.

It was decided that new floats and sets were to be added each year.

The Christmas pageant was not held from 1941 to 1944 due to World War II.

The Christmas Pageant resumed with the Victory Christmas pageant-celebrating the end of World War II. The pageant was broadcast by radio for the first time and this continued until 1959.

The Lord Mayor initiates a party for 800 orphans at the Adelaide Town Hall. These children are treated to a bird's eye view of the Pageant, a Christmas party and a visit by Father Christmas. This became an annual event.

An elephant float appears in the pageant for the first time, well before the famous Nellie.

The Queen of Hearts float is designed and a Queen is selected from staff to represent John Martin's store. Arguably the first pageant queen.

In August 1950, Mr F. Stuart of Thaxted, England invented the first mechanical elephant. Originally named Mary, she made her public debut at a famous seaside resort giving rides to hundreds of children. Sir Edward Hayward purchased Mary for 1500 pounds and brought her to South Australia. Soon after her arrival in Adelaide Mary was affectionately renamed Nellie. Nellie's first pageant was in the same year. She has over 9000 moving parts and is powered by a 1940's Ford prefect engine. And the exhaust pipe? What else are elephant trunks for?

Walking sets have always been a popular part of the parade.

A flock of ostriches pass by.

The Piggy Piggy float of 1957.

The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies and his wife Dame Pattie Menzies, attend the pageant: the only Prime Minister to date to witness the pageant first hand.

The pageant queen of 1962.

Clowns have always been an important part of the pageant, including bob-up clowns.

Rehearsals on John Martin's car park roof top.

A Jazz Band first plays in the pageant. Note political correctness was not a part of the social conscience as it is today.

In 1972 the pageant consisted of 1358 personnel, 48 sets and floats and 20 bands.

Slurp the sea lion graciously passes an admiring crowd.

To celebrate South Australia's 150th jubilee new floats in the pageant included HMS Buffalo, Proclamation Tree and Bound for South Australia.

The pageant is now known as the Credit Union Christmas Pageant. It is  owned, managed and produced by Australian Major Events (later to become Events South Australia) a division of the  South Australian Tourism Commission. The naming rights sponsors are six leading South Australian credit unions; Savings & Loans, Australian Central, Community CPS Australia, Police, Powerstate and Satisfac credit unions with additional assistance from the Adelaide City Council, David Jones and the many volunteers.
The credit unions maintain the pageant queen tradition and use her and the princesses to spread Christmas cheer to country areas.

Brian Gilbertson directs his first pageant as the fifth pageant director. The first black and white float is introduced. The first female artist to create a float is appointed.

Pageant director, Brian Gilbertson, records the bell ringing from 4 Adelaide cathedral and church bell towers for the music on Ringing in the Pageant. This float is horse drawn to celebrate earlier pageants when all floats were drawn by horse.
The Monster Family introduced. The family consists of Zorg and Zilma and their growing children Zabella and Baxter.
 

Celebrating 75th year of the pageant.
New float: Hats off to 75 years of Magic (75 tap dancers in top hat and tails lead the pageant).
75th Anniversary Diamond Ball takes place at the Adelaide Convention Centre to raise money for charity.
Lee Lennan releases her book The Legendary Magic Cave and Christmas Pageant

Oog joins the Monster Family.
The Cup Cake Christmas float is designed by St Johns Grammar School Belair. Their design wins first place in 2007 Credit Union Christmas Pageant School Design-A-Float competition.

1st attempt at a Guinness World Record for the largest Mexican Wave.

2nd attempt at a Guinness World Record for the largest Mexican Wave.
This was one of the hottest pageants in pageant history following a 6 day heat wave over 40 degrees. By the time Father Christmas reached North Terrace at 11.14am the temperature was 35.1 degrees.
Rodney the red bi-plane mini float designed by students at the Owen School is first introduced to the pageant.

Celebrating 15 years of credit union's pageant naming rights sponsorship thus bringing the true meaning of community to the city streets.
A successful attempt at the Guinness World record for the Largest Group of Carol Singers.
Hush and Grandma Poss join the pageant family celebrating Australia's best known and most loved children's book Possum Magic. Author Mem Fox accompanies the float in the Austin 7.

The Credit Unions commit to sponsor the pageant for a further 5 years. This will take the sponsorship to 20 years, unheralded and setting an Australian benchmark.