Parrtjima – A Festival in Light returns to illuminate the Red Centre in April in more ways than one, with some of Australia’s most prominent First Nations identities ready to discuss a range of topics as part of the talks program during the free 10-night festival.
From 12-21 April 2024, large-scale light installations will light up the night sky above Alice Springs Desert Park (ASDP) while on the ground a series of talks will allow visitors to hear from the likes of actor, screenwriter and producer Aaron Fa’aoso, health researcher Roxanne Ngarulya Highfold, TV presenter Marcellus Enalanga, art historian Professor Gregory Lehman and the Parrtjima Festival Reference Group. Musicians Troy Cassar-Daley, Shellie Morris and Miiesha will also appear on the talks program, as well as perform as part of the music program.
One of this year’s new initiatives, in collaboration with Alice Springs Town Council and kicking off the action on Thursday, 11 April 2024, is Late Night feat. Parrtjima. Taking place from 5.30pm-8.30pm, the Alice Springs CBD will come alive with a fun program for all the family. The evening will include a mini projection of crowd favourite Grounded, food stalls, music, late-night shopping and discounts, a pop-up cinema with free popcorn for movie attendees and a bouncy castle for the kids.
Also new is a legendary large-scale puppet by visual theatre wizards Erth. Named Arelhe Urrperle by the Parrtjima Festival Reference Group, she will delight people of all ages as she shares language and stories. Expert puppeteers will train local Indigenous performers how to operate her. For the first time there will also be a Buy Blak Market in collaboration with Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network and Desart. The three-night marketplace is for the whole family, and will showcase food and products from Aboriginal businesses.
Parrtjima favourites will return with a new twist, with the MacDonnell Ranges Light Show to illuminate the 300-million-year-old landmark as a natural canvas, and Grounded, which animates the red dirt at ASDP, returning bigger and more interactive.
