Ho-Ho-Hop on board as Adelaide Metro ditches fares for the Christmas Pageant

Wednesday 5 November 2025

Free public transport will be on offer again this year for the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant on Saturday, 8 November.

While the Old London Bus and the Pageant Express Steam Train will stick to the Pageant route, Adelaide Metro’s bus, train and tram services will be free from 6am to 2pm on Pageant day, to help families get to and from the city.

Additional buses and trains will be in operation to cater for the hundreds of thousands of people expected to travel to the city and pack the route, while extra services will be added to the substitute buses that are currently replacing trams on the partially closed Glenelg tram line.

These additional services will help make public transport a quick, easy, and convenient way for families to reach their spot behind the Blue Honour Line before Father Christmas arrives.

Last year, more than 300,000 people lined the streets of Adelaide to watch the southern hemisphere’s largest public street parade.

On Pageant day, no tram services will operate on King William Street or the eastern section of North Terrace during the morning, as this forms part of the pageant route. Tram services will continue to operate between the Entertainment Centre and Adelaide Railway Station.

Some bus stops will also be closed in the CBD, with services aiming to bring passengers as close as possible to the pageant route. There will also be a number of road closures in the city to ensure a safe pageant for all.

Pageant goers can plan their trip ahead of time by visiting the Adelaide Metro website, with extra information available on the Christmas Pageant website.

"This is an iconic South Australian event, so leave the car at home, hop on the bus or the train, and get in early to secure your spot."

"We’ll have additional services on hand for the day, so before you see the “Ye Old Pageant Tram” or the” London Bus”, jump on board with Adelaide Metro and avoid any parking hassles."