One of the yearly highlights of growing up in an Australian country town is the local Christmas pageant.

On a (usually) hot December evening, the local kids gather along the side of the road, draw pictures in chalk and wave excitedly at their school friends as they pass on the local scouts' float or at their uncle or aunt on the CFS truck. Even Nanna and Grandad might roll past on their tinsel-decorated gophers, representing the local retirement village.

Nearly every pageant in the state was cancelled in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and unfortunately there will be no pageant in Goolwa again this year.

The Lions Club of Goolwa posted on their Facebook page yesterday that “with regret” they will not be organising a 2021 street Christmas pageant.

The club explained "the significant COVID restrictions, limitations and requirements that would apply to make the event COVID Safe Event cannot be achieved for a street pageant.”

“Alexandrina Council and the Lions Club recognise that at this time there is little chance of COVID restrictions being altered by Christmas that would permit the event.”

“The Lions Club of Goolwa will hopefully be able to hold the Goolwa Lions Christmas pageant in 2022, as it has done for over 20 years.”

Santa will not completely bypass the town however with the Club organising him to make an appearance at Goolwa Primary School during the last week of the school year to distribute cheer and ice-blocks.

He will then return on Christmas Eve to travel through the streets of Goolwa in a horse drawn cart.

The Lions Club will provide further updates on these events throughout the year.

The need for a COVID safe plan and the extra work involved with adhering to the COVID restrictions is making it difficult for many volunteer organisations to stage events.

The Southern Agricultural Society recently appealed for an additional 200 volunteers to help to ensure the Port Elliot Show can go ahead in October.