Festival of light

Parrtjima: Australia’s Festival of Light

March 23, 2023

For guests at Longitude 131 who are planning on spending more time exploring the Northern Territory, the annual Parrtjima Festival of Light is an event to work into the itinerary.

Running over ten nights from April 8-17, 2023, Parrtjima is a free event held in Alice Springs and extending to the beautiful West MacDonnell Ranges. The light festival features a range of light installations, colourful projections and interactive displays that showcase the stories and traditions of the local First Nations Arrernte people.

Visitors enjoying a light show on day three of Parrtjima 2021.

One of the festival highlights is the lighting of the MacDonnell Ranges, a soaring natural landmark that serves as the backdrop for the festival’s light shows.

Also a highlight is the range of First Nations cultural performances, talks, and workshops that offer visitors the chance to learn about Indigenous culture and traditions. Visitors can enjoy traditional dance and music performances, attend talks by local artists and cultural leaders, and join workshops to learn traditional crafts.

Parrtjima is an important event for the local First Nations Arrernte community, providing a platform for the people to share their culture and stories with a wider audience. The festival provides economic benefits for the region, with visitors from around Australia and the world travelling to Alice Springs to experience the magic of the festival.

For more information about Parrtjima, visit https://parrtjimaaustralia.com.au/.

Images courtesy of Parrtjima Australia.

Back to the journal