The broadcast
The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is returning to the streets of Adelaide, and this year the event will be broadcasted live on Vision Australia Radio Adelaide, from 9:00 am until 11:30 am, Saturday November 4, complete with Audio Description (AD) with thanks to our broadcast partner Access2Arts.
Positioned on a balcony on Waymouth Street, we'll be audio describing some of your favourite floats like the historic Nellie the Elephant, large fluffy pink Bruto, and of, course, the man from the North Pole - Santa Claus and his sleigh!
A long history of Christmas cheer!
With humble beginnings, the Adelaide Christmas Pageant is staged annually on the second Saturday of November and has been since 1933. The pageant comprises a procession of 85 sets and 1,700 volunteers including floats, bands, clowns, dancing groups and walking performers. It’s often seen as the launch of Adelaide’s annual Christmas festivities, bringing the local community together for a 9:30 am start, with celebrations continuing along King William Street, before ending at Adelaide Town Hall.
The event is traditionally broadcast across a number of commercial and public television channels, depending on who has the broadcast rights. In 2023 the telecast will be shared on Channel 9 in Adelaide.
What is audio description?
AD offers people who are blind or have low vision an understanding of what is happening visually within a theatre, television, film, DVD, museum, exhibition, live event or other arts related productions. It is an additional narration that succinctly paints an image of transitions, movements, gestures, props, settings, costumes and scenery woven between the dialogues. This audio description service is provided by Access2Arts in partnership with Vision Australia Radio, supported by the City of Adelaide and the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service
How to listen to Vision Australia Radio’s audio described broadcast
* Adelaide based listeners can tune in to our broadcast via 1197 AM / VA Radio or VA IRIS on digital radio.
- No matter your location, ask your smart device to play Vision Australia Radio Adelaide.
- Download the Community Radio Plus app and select Vision Australia Radio Adelaide.
- Visit www.varadio.org, and select the ‘listen live’ link for our Adelaide service.
How to access audio description live at the event
If you would like to attend the Pageant and listen to the AD from the community section right in front of where the live description is being broadcast, please register your interest using the link below. Limited tickets are available and must be pre-booked through the Access2Arts registration page.
If you wish to attend the live event, but choose to be located beyond the community section at a space of your liking, you may wish to consider bringing your own internet enabled smart phone, or AM radio receiver to enjoy the Vision Australia Radio audio described broadcast.
We can't wait to share the magic of the 2023 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant with you and your family!
About our broadcast partner, Access2Arts
Access2Arts is a disability-led arts development agency and the peak body for arts and disability in South Australia. They support d/Deaf and disabled people in South Australia to get involved in the arts as audiences, participants, artists, arts workers and leaders and Arts and cultural organisations to become more inclusive and accessible.
Proudly supported by the City of Adelaide, Vision Australia Radio and the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service
