The jolly one came to town in style, trailing a parade including 27 floats, featuring Ronald McDonald, Smurfs, beauty queens, angels, footie players, farm animals and dogs.
The parade also comprised a large number of trucks, fire appliances, representatives of St John, vintage tractors, cyclists and a pipe band.
A sizeable crowd spread out along Thames St, with the youngsters especially revelling in the atmosphere and spectacle. High jinks were limited by a ban on the use of water pistols from floats and lolly-throwing was also forbidden.
The parade took a new route this year, beginning on Usk St before dispersing at Itchen St at the southern end of Thames St.
Gary Watling, of the Radio Network, organised the parade.