Parrtjima – A Festival in Light returns to Alice Springs

  • Parrtjima 2024 Crowds enjoy Grounded featuring the work of Margaret Bloomfield Credit Parrtjima
  • Parrtjima 2024 opening night Credit Parrtjima
  • Parrtjima 2024 Rhoda Roberts in converstaion with Shellie Morris Credit Parrtjima
  • A child enjoys the Grounded installation by Keahanie Baker Tunkin Credit Parrtjima
  • Parrtjima 2024 Tjoritja Cockatoos. Credit Parrtjima
  • Parrtjima MacDonnell Ranges Light Show
  • Parrtjima 2024. The Arrernte exhibition Credit Parrtjima
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Edited by Travel Weekly


Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is set to return to Alice Springs (Mparntwe) for its 10th iteration from 4 to 13 April 2025, offering a celebration of culture, art and technology.

The only Aboriginal light festival of its kind, Parrtjima showcases the world’s oldest continuous cultures through stunning light installations and performances, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges.

Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) acting CEO Trevor Cox said 2025 will be a milestone year for Parrtjima – A Festival in Light

“As it celebrates its 10th iteration, the festival will feature a once-in-a-lifetime performance by the full Darwin Symphony Orchestra as part of their Territory Tour, marking a major highlight of the event,” he said.

“As one of the Red Centre’s biggest events, Parrtjima continues to grow in both scale and significance. The festival continues to highlight the importance to the local community and the broader Northern Territory. As Parrtjima evolves, we want more visitors from across Australia and beyond to visit Central Australia to experience the magic of this award-winning festival.”

This year Parrtjima won a slew of prestigious awards nationally and internationally, recognising its excellence on a global scale. The festival received two Australian Event Awards and four Global Eventex Awards, solidifying Parrtjima as one of the world’s leading tourism and cultural events. Parrtjima is delivered NTMEC alongside event partners We Are Gather and Grumpy Sailor.

“Culture transcends time, bridging ancient stories that have shaped us, even when it has faced interruption and policy-driven division,” Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts AO said. “Parrtjima ensures a space where we all feel special, as the lights illuminate the timeless essence of our culture and our country Australia.”

“At Parrtjima, we are reminded by the Arrernte people that timeless culture invites us to experience, learn, and connect.”

This free 10-night festival once again features the much-loved MacDonnell Ranges Light Show and Grounded installations, alongside new works inspired by the 2025 theme, ‘Timelessness’.

Other highlights include bush food workshops, markets, talks, and, for the first time ever, a special open-air performance by the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, featuring over 50 musicians.

Darwin Symphony Orchestra general manager Kate Stephens said: “We are thrilled to have the entire Darwin Symphony Orchestra playing at Parrtjima- Festival in Light as part of our Territory Tour.

“This will be an unforgettable experience, not just for us, but for everyone who joins us at Desert Park. It’s a performance you won’t want to miss.”

The spectacle is a ticketed event and features Desert Divas Catherine Satour, Carii Williams and Bronwyn Stuart for a memorable closing Saturday night. Australian county music icon, Troy Cassar-Daley, kicks off the festival’s opening weekend.

Visitor registrations are free and now open.

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