April 4 - April 13
The award-winning Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, returns to Alice Springs (Mparntwe) for its 10th iteration from 4-13 April 2025, offering a spectacular celebration of culture, art, and modern technology under the starry skies of Central Australia.
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.
The 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 more than 50 musicians. This spectacle is a ticketed event and will feature Desert Divas Catherine Satour, Casii Williams, and Bronwyn Stuart for a memorable closing Saturday night. Australian county music icon Troy Cassar-Daley will kick off the festival’s opening weekend.
Visitor registrations are free and now open.
What: Parrtjima – A Festival in Light
When: 4-13 April 2025
Where: Alice Springs Desert Park
More info: parrtjimaaustralia.com.au
About Parrtjima – A Festival in Light
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is the only Aboriginal light festival of its kind in the world. It showcases the extraordinary cultures of Australia’s Indigenous communities, bringing to life stories of the world’s oldest living culture using modern technology, set against the spectacular backdrop of the Central Australian desert.
Parrtjima (pronounced Par-Chee-ma) means ‘lighting up’ and conveys two meanings: physically illuminating an object with light and ‘lighting up’ to shed light and understanding on a subject. Parrtjima 2024 received two prestigious Australian Event Awards for Best Tourism Event and Best Regional Event. The awards, which saw Parrtjima up against Vivid Sydney 2024 and Tasmania’s Taste of Summer 2023 in the Best Tourism Award, recognise the significance of Parrtjima and the impact it has on the community.