Have you ever wondered what a seven-metre indoor Christmas tree looks like or wanted an up-close peek at costumes from the state’s iconic National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant? Festive-goers can find all of this and more at the State Library of South Australia this festive season.
Here are seven free festive activities to check out at the State Library of South Australia.
1. Witness Adelaide’s largest indoor Christmas tree
Admire the library’s stunning seven-metre-high Christmas tree, unveiled recently during a free sneak peek event. A part of the Mortlock Chamber since 2020, the giant tree is adorned with hundreds of sparkling lights and decorations, making for the perfect festive backdrop for photos.
2. Admire National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant treasures
Missed the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant? Now is your chance to check out some of the iconic event’s treasures.
The State Library’s treasured Mortlock Chamber will be home to a special display from the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant, Adelaide’s biggest indoor Christmas Tree, and a range of free activities and events to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
The pageant treasures on display are packed with nostalgia, joy, and charm. You’ll find vintage Kingsley Cars, character heads like the Seven Dwarfs, Humpty Dumpty, the PS Murray Explorer float, and even costumes from the pageant, including clown outfits and thrones.
3. Meet ‘Santa the Curator’
You can’t miss the giant inflatable Santa on display in the library’s forecourt as part of the City of Adelaide’s Christmas Trail. This city-wide Santa hunt invites people to visit all 10 Santas scattered around Adelaide.
4. Christmas crafts
Keep the kids entertained with Christmas crafts, like writing postcards to Father Christmas. From 16 to 20 December, visitors can create their own Christmas ornaments.
5. Hear Christmas tales
Enjoy festive storytelling under the State Library’s Christmas tree daily, from 16 to 20 December, 11am to 1pm. There’s also a fairy-themed Christmas reading nook now open to curl up with a Christmas book.
6. Have a rest!
Chairs from John Martin’s Magic Cave will be showcased for visitors to take a seat on the chairs where Father Christmas once sat!
7. Listen to Christmas carols
It’s not Christmas until the carollers sing!
The State Library will host a number of choir groups across December, starting with local school choirs singing carols in the Mortlock Chamber daily from 2 to 6 December, at 10am and 1pm.
This will be followed by a selection of other festive choir groups, see details below:
- Lumina Choir – Sunday 8 December at 1pm
- South Australian Children’s Choir – Saturday 14 December at 1pm
- Young Adelaide Voices Youth Choir – Tuesday 17 December at 1pm
- Young Adelaide Voices Community Carols Choir – Saturday 21 December at 12pm
“It’s been such a joy watching this nostalgic collection come together in our beautiful Mortlock Chamber,” says Megan Berghuis, State Library of South Australia’s director.
“As the keeper of the state’s stories, we’re proud to display these pieces that remind us of the magic of Christmas past,” she adds.
Christmas at the Mortlock activities are free and open to the public from now until Sunday, 5 January 2025.
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