Troubled Alice Springs bouncing back with milestone festival

Primarily a light festival, Parrtjima 2025 will highlight the works of more than 20 First Nations artists across six major installations. These light displays are set against the 300-million-year-old Tjoritja/MacDonnell Ranges, and the starry night skies of the outback.

This year, the installations will celebrate cultural continuity and storytelling, inspired by the 2025 festival theme of “timelessness”.

The MacDonnell Ranges Light Show for instance is a fusion of contemporary classical music and Arrernte language, paying tribute to deep spiritual connection to the land.

Parrtjima 2025 also includes workshops, offering festival-goers the chance to actively engage with diverse cultural traditions and artistic expressions.

Highlights include a watercolour painting session with art centre Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands, where participants can explore the renowned Hermannsburg style made famous by Central Australian art legend Albert Namatjira.

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Nightly live musical performances and comedy shows include a free concert from Troy Cassar-Daley. There will be talks and in-conversation sessions with some of Australia’s most influential Indigenous voices.

The festival’s closing weekend will feature a ticketed performance by the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.

Paul Ah Chee says law and order issues are a work in progress, but work is being done. He wants to assure visitors they will feel safe, adding people should not be put off coming to the 10th anniversary celebrations. “Parrtjima is a life-changing experience. There’s nothing else like it.”