It’s that time of year again. Christmas is on the way. Well actually most stores have had their Christmas merchandise out since well before Halloween but I refuse to acknowledge it until November. When I lived in Adelaide I considered John Martin’s Christmas Pageant the beginning of the Christmas season. John Martins is long gone and it’s been more than twelve years since we left Adelaide but Hobart has a Christmas parade too and it was held yesterday.

Although the parade is partly sponsored by a large department store the participants come from everywhere, businesses, schools, clubs and churches; it seems that anyone can enter a float. This years parade had a strong multicultural feel to it. The best entry in my opinion came from the local Buddhist temple who had a Lion Dance, and many marchers with twirling fans. I think it is rather nice that they participate so joyfully in the Christmas celebrations.

I did not have an easy time taking photos this year as my bus only arrived in Hobart ten minutes before the parade was due to start. My friends and I didn’t have as long to choose a good spot to watch and I had the problem of a couple of people standing nearby who kept moving and spoiled some of my pictures. However I did get a few that I liked and it was a nice sunny day for a Christmas parade. Some of my favourite displays this year were the RSPCA and the Sled Dogs for the obvious reason that they had dogs, very excited dogs I might add. We were near the beginning of the route and the dogs after waiting around to start were excited to be going on a big public walk.

My friend Ally’s old primary school had done a very clever display of “The 12 Days of Christmas with all the swans a swimming, maids a milking  etc. It was one that I was unable to photograph unfortunately. I also liked one from Glenview, a Hobart retirement home. They had put some of their residents in the parade with their mobility scooters and wheelchairs decorated as Christmas parcels. The Red Hat Ladies looked great although I didn’t get a good shot of them.

The clown doctors were there again, and some nice old vehicles, my favourite steam tractor, a vintage ute and a fire engine. Some of the churches had more traditional Christmas themes.

There was lots of music too with all the usual suspects, the Police Pipe Band, the Hobart City Band, an army band. You can’t have a Christmas parade without bands.

Finally Santa Claus arrived on his float in his traditional red garb. Christmas had officially arrived in Hobart.