Parrtjima – A Festival in Light

Parrtjima, pronounced par-Chee-ma, is the meeting place where old meets new - shedding light and understanding, and perfectly encapsulates the intention and atmosphere of this unique event which stays true to Country and culture by celebrating its unique selection of artists through the theme 'Sky Country'.

Image: Tourism NT-KWPI

Both traditional and contemporary Aboriginal artists will use the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges as their canvas, with light sculptures that transform the Alice Springs Desert Park into a dazzling outdoor gallery of colour and sound over 10 nights. Live music, talks and movies accompany the luminous installations making the event a truly captivating experience.

Visitors can take their time wandering through a stunning natural landscape cloaked in huge-scale light installations for free. 

Visit Parrtjima - A Festival In Light for the full programme of events.

Image: NT Major Events - James Horan

When:

12-21 April 2024

Where:

Alice Springs – an oasis in the desert packed with great museums and galleries capturing a rich multicultural mosaic – is the perfect launch pad to explore the beating heart of Australia through the Red Centre. The outback town is the gateway to Central Australia’s sweeping ochre-red landscapes, including the nearby MacDonnell Ranges, the epic Kings Canyon, plus the awe-inspiring rock formations of Uluru and Kata Tjuta five hours’ drive south (which in this vast part of the world constitutes ‘just down the road’).

Stay:

YHA Alice Springs is built within the grounds of an historic outdoor movie theatre, in a great location in the centre of this atmospheric outback town and just a short drive from the event space. The property has a big outdoor movie screen showing movies nightly under the stars.