After months of excitement, little fans from across Perth packed RAC Arena to “wake up Lachy” and dance the Hot Potato.
More than 6000 people for each of The Wiggles’ three shows on Saturday came to see the eight Wiggles — including original blue Wiggle Anthony — perform classics like Fruit Salad and Hokey Pokey.
Favourite friends like Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur and Henry the Octopus were also highlights on stage.
And in a surprise, Santa Claus came out to the tune of Jingle Bells.
Four-year-old Odin Sly was dressed in purple to match his sleepy favourite, Lachy Gillespie, after months of anticipation.
“He’s been waiting for the show for six months and talking about it constantly,” Odin’s mum Shannen Watkins said.
“He was wearing his suit everyday this week. He has been going every year since he was a baby.”
Odin said his favourite song was Hot Potato and loved seeing Wags the Dog.
For four-year-old Florence Shanks, The Wiggles have been an inspiration.
The young fan suffers from a heart condition drew inspiration from original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page who suffered a heart attack back stage in 2020.
“She was very much Wiggle obsessed and now her little sister Aubrey is too,” mum Roslyn said
Florence was featured dancing at home in the new Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles documentary on Amazon.
While she is no longer a member of the group, Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins — the troupe’s first female member — was, judging by the sea of yellow outfits, still overwhelmingly the most popular Wiggle.
Two-year-old Franki Thomas’ mum, Rebecca, said it was Franki’s first concert and she remained obsessed with Watkins.
“She still identifies with the yellow colour and she loves Emma,” she said. “She also loves Dorothy the Dinosaur.”
In between the packed morning and afternoon shows, parking slowed to a crawl underneath the arena.
Purple Wiggle John Pearce has toured WA as a member of former entertainment group Justice Crew, ‘Big Strong John’ and told The West ahead of the show that Perth was one of the “hidden gems of Australia.”
Pearce, 32, recalled trekking to Tom Price, Karratha, Busselton and Albany with his break dance pals, an experience he said is vastly different to that of being a Wiggle.
“It is different, obviously with the age and attention of the audience,” he joked.
“The people we’re performing for are children, and the music we’re actually performing and writing is a totally new ball game for me… I think it’s a career progression.”
Pearce joined his twin brother Len – also a former member of Justice Crew – when the original four Wiggles performed in 2022.
Opening the shows with iconic Justice Crew music, the 32-year-old couldn’t help but laugh at the “crossover”.
“A lot of the people who attended the OG shows were in their 20s and 30s – they grew up listening to Justice Crew music.”This weekend, the performer will join fellow Wiggles Anthony, Tsehay, Lachy, Simon, Evie, Lucia and Caterina for their Wiggly Big Day Out at RAC Arena.
And come Sunday night, when Pearce is all Hot Potato’d out, the Purple Wiggle said he unwinds “just like anyone else”.
“Sitting back, watching a TV series. I like to go to the gym, and spend time with my wife and family when I’m back in Sydney.
“We’re just people at the end of the day, there’s nothing really out there or different.”