Local Lobethal icon Des Stanbury (pictured) will be honoured at the Lobethal Pageant on Monday evening when he is inducted into the 23 December Lobethal Pageant Hall of Fame.
“He was our first ever Santa Claus 60 years ago, sitting in a kitchen chair on the back of a carryall on a tractor coming up the main street, that’s where it all started,” Pageant Chair Leanne Haywood told ARN’s Adam and Jennie on Wednesday.
The committee also plans to recognise Mr Stanbury and the town’s historic traditions in the new year.
“Probably early next year there’ll be a monument in the form of a large rock put in the town and his name will be on there in a brass plaque,” Leanne Haywood said.
In June 2024, the Lights of Lobethal committee announced they would no longer hold a pageant.
Determined to preserve their cherished tradition, 14 volunteers formed a new incorporated organisation named ’23 December Lobethal Pageant Inc’. Their dedication inspired an outpouring of support with bsinesses from far and wide and the local community rallying, donating funds and working together to ensure the new committee could bring back the beloved event.
Against all odds, the committee has been successful with the traditional Christmas pageant returning to Lobethal on Monday, December 23, 2024, starting at 7.00pm. Roads will be closed from 5.30pm and gates will open at 6pm.
For the latest info about the pageant, and for updates go to the Lobethal Christmas Pageant 23rd December Facebook page.
