News - Lobethal Pageant

2026 SPONSORSHIP

We are incredibly excited to run the 63rd Pageant at Lobethal in 2026. Organising this event is well under way and it promises to be even better than last year – if that’s possible!

The amazing committee have organised insurance, toilets, first aid, security, musicians, bands, seating and lighting. Unfortunately everything has gone up in price, so we are looking for sponsors to help pay for these expenses.

This community event is for you and we need your support. You can have your name in lights, or be anonymous – the choice is yours. If you have a business, sponsorship is tax deductible and you get a Tax Invoice to support your advertising expense. Get your name out there and the locals will support you.

Please click on the green button above saying Registration Forms, and download the sponsorship form.

Preparations for 23rd December Pageant for 2026

We are pleased to announce the launch of preparations for the 63rd year of the Christmas Pageant at Lobethal, which will be on a Wednesday for 2026.

We know it’s only July, but the committee just love every aspect of organising this iconic and spectacular pageant. One of the many things we consider is food stalls. We want to give you the best, diverse choices imaginable, so that you can enjoy beautiful food, before, during and after the pageant.

Stall Holders application is uploaded…

Stall Holder Applications are now open, and entry form link is below

StallHolder Application

There have been a few changes this year, so please read the form carefully, and email us your completed application form as soon as possible. We have received a lot of enquiries, and we are looking for the tastiest and the best food stalls for this year.

Chairperson’s Report for 2025

23 DECEMBER LOBETHAL PAGEANT INC CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

The 23 December Lobethal Pageant held in 2025 was the second pageant produced by the
newly formed committee, who were dedicated to holding this cherished and historically
significant event on the traditional date of the 23rd of December each year.

SPONSORS
We received outstanding support from many sponsors with three sponsors coming on board to
be Five Star Sponsors. They were Scoots’ Roofing, Thomas Foods International and CMV Group
who received premium exposure throughout the entire pageant, and the lead up to the event.

FLOATS
More than 50 floats participated in the 62nd Lobethal Pageant and their contribution to the
event was outstanding, with a lot of variety providing enormous entertainment for the crowd.

SPECTATORS
It was estimated by a wide variety of highly credentialled people that the crowds were definitely
larger than 2024, with the final agreed figure landing somewhere between 10,000 and 11,000.
People came from Adelaide, intrastate and interstate to witness the spectacular event that the
pageant has become.

LIVE STREAMING
2025 saw the first attempt to live stream the event. Thank you to Travis Blundell at the Lobethal
Hotel for helping to organise this. The demand was so great, that the Telstra tower being used
to relay the broadcast could not cope with the demand, and this led to a lot of disappointment
for the aged and indisposed who could not attend. We have had positive feedback from
viewers in Oklahoma in the USA and also the French Alps who have since been able to watch
the entire event on Youtube. Hopefully this will be vastly improved for the 2026 Pageant.

In conclusion I would like to thank the very hard working and dedicated committee members,
who have endured a steep learning curve on how to produce a pageant. Each member has
contributed enormously and I know their dedication is pivotal to the success of the pageant.

I wish to thank everyone who helped in any way, and look forward to the 2026 Pageant being a
huge success once again.

Leanne Haywood
Chairperson

Application Membership Form Link:

Application for Membership Form

Pageant Float Winners 2025

WINNERS OF THE PAGEANT FLOAT COMPETITION FOR 2025!

Our judges Rebekha Sharkie MP, Dan Cregan MP and Lobethal identity Mrs Sue Hughes found the task of judging the floats very difficult, because each float looked terrific. It was extremely close, and on a countback of points, we are pleased to announce the follow winners of each category:

Best Creative: Need It Now

Best Christmas: Lobethal Lutheran School

Best Comedy: Mrs Klaus’ Kitchen.

Congratulations to these amazing people. Your prize money and trophies will be awarded at our AGM after the 31st of March 2026. The date for this will be announced later, both here on Facebook and on our website

2025 Lobethal Pageant – Thank You & live streaming

The 2025 pageant was an absolutely outstanding success, and we have heard nothing but glowing reviews. This year we had a lot more time to prepare, and we need to say a massive thank you to our major sponsors

SCOOT & SON ROOFING
THOMAS FOODS INTERNATIONAL
CMV FOUNDATION GROUP

whose contribution ensured we could produce your community pageant to a very high standard.

The live streaming was severely interrupted by the local Telstra tower not being able to deliver the required service, for reasons that are unknown. Traders in the town were impacted as well, but hopefully that will be rectified before next year. It was our first attempt at live streaming, and we will definitely make improvements for next year.

We had a viewer from the French Alps trying to watch, which means the 23 December Lobethal Pageant has a global following!

The good news is, you can watch the entire 2025 pageant by clicking on the following link:
https://youtu.be/rs6Y24aWrA0

Thank you to each and every one of you for supporting the 23 December Lobethal Pageant for 2025. It’s been a real team effort from many, many people, and it’s amazing what can be achieved when everyone pulls together.

So from the entire very hardworking committee, may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.

Leanne Haywood
Chairperson

PAGEANT DAY!

It’s here! Pageant Day! Today is the 61st time it’s been held on the 23rd of December. Here is some important information:

5.30 pm

The following road closures to vehicles are enforced:

* Main Street between Mill Corner and Bridge Street until 9.30 pm.

* Main Street between Bridge Street and the Cudlee Creek intersection until approximately 8.30 pm.

* Woodside Road between Mill Corner and Ridge Rd Corner until approximately 8.30 pm;

* Jeffrey Street between Woodside Road and the Oval until approximately 8.30 pm.

All times are subject to the discretion of Traffic Control.

6.00 pm

Live Streaming and entertainment starts.

Please let us know where you are watching from. We want to know how far the 23 December Lobethal Pageant reaches. The link is

https://www.youtube.com/live/PY7O4r4kF9U?si=9ytdrwqemrEhPtlK

2025 Brochures will be handed out by committee members Gus and Rylan, along with chalk for the customary pavement drawing. Brochures will also be available from the commentary and judging stand, opposite the Post Office. Look for the colouring-in competition inside the brochure.

7.00 pm

The Lobethal Harmony Club will be singing the National Anthem. This is followed by the cutting of the ribbon by next year’s Hall of Fame Inductees, Lynn Rawlings, and Marcia Kleemann who is accepting this honour on behalf of her late husband, John Kleemann.

The procession starts from the top end of the Main Street as they make their way down the Main Street, turning left at Mill Corner and make their way down Jeffrey Street.

This is followed by a street party with lots of food, drinks and entertainment available to cater for everyone.

The committee would like to thank everyone that has helped make this iconic community event, your cherished pageant, the huge success that it is, and hope you all find it thoroughly enjoyable.

Merry Christmas from all of us, to all of you.

HALL OF FAME FOR 2025

We are delighted to announce that MR KEVIN KLEEMANN OAM

is our Hall of Fame Inductee for 2025.

Kevin has earned the honour of the Order of Australian Merit for his services to the

Adelaide Hills Community.

He has been a member of the Onkaparinga Lions Club for 49 years, serving as President, Fundraising Chairman, and History Officer. Kevin has received Lions Club Awards including the Melvin Jones Fellow (Lions International) presented at the Australia Day Civic Award.

Kevin has been Chair of the Lights of Lobethal for many years, Lobethal Recreation supporter, Lobethal Football Club Patron, Lobethal Cemetery Curator for 50 years, Member of the Liberal Party, Woodside Commerce Group member, Chairperson of the Lutheran Church at Woodside for four years, on the Stewardship Committee for many years including serving as Chairperson, and supported the Lobethal Soapbox Derbies. Kevin has been a Funeral Director for 75 years, is very well known throughout the hills, and is worthy of every award that he has received.

23 December Lobethal Pageant Inc is very proud to induct Kevin Kleemann OAM into the 23 December Lobethal Pageant Hall of Fame. His name now appears on the monument in the gardens of the Valley of Praise Retirement Village. Generations for years to come will be aware of the huge contribution that Kevin has made to his community.

Congratulations Kevin!

Lobethal Pageant live stream available on 23rd December 6pm

This year we have a full live stream of the Pageant commencing at 6PM on 23rd December.

Click on the link below to start watching

23 December Lobethal Pageant 2025

There is just over 8 weeks to the pageant for 2025, and we have sent out our sponsorship forms to everyone in the town.

Can you please help the committee and all our volunteers, bring this pageant to you again this year? We need to pay for all the essential items like insurance, toilets, first aid, entertainers, printing etc.

Please sponsor and donate now, so that the community has their 23 December Lobethal Pageant again this year. Every little bit helps. Kind regards, The Committee.

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