IN PICTURES: Parade of colourful floats fills York Street for 2024 Albany Christmas Festival and Pageant

Where else would you find an orca, a Dalek and a nativity scene but Albany’s annual Christmas Festival and Pageant? The city’s creativity was on full display as floats paraded the main streets on Saturday. Thousands descended on the CBD to jostle for the best spot to watch the 43 floats move up and down York Street, including Santa Claus, who made a special appearance in a red sleigh. Albany Historic Whaling Station’s effort was crowned the best float with its friendly orca waving to the adoring masses, while Air Force Cadets 705 Squadron placed second with their marching band and Albany Christmas Community came third with its nativity scene. The Albany Filipino Association was a crowd favourite, earning the people’s choice award for its colourful float.